^B    Sfl3    Mbl  t?  NATIONAL  DEFENSE 

reconstruc™nHsearch  division 

HERBERT  N.  SHENTON,  Chief 


Readjustment  and  Reconstruction 
Information 


READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION 
ACTIVITIES  IN  FOREIGN  COUNTRIES 


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WASHINGTON,  D.  C. 
May  1,  1919 


WASHINQTON  :  QOVERNMENT  PRINTINQ  OFFICE  :  1018 


UNITED  STATES  COUNCIL  OF  NATIONAL  DEFENSE 


RECONSTRUCTION  RESEARCH  DIVISION 

HERBERT  N.  SHENTON,  Chief 


Readjustment  and  Reconstruction 
Information 


READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION 
ACTIVITIES  IN  FOREIGN  COUNTRIES 


»   '     >  ..• 


WASHINGTON,  D.  C. 
May  1,  1919 


WASHINQTON  :  QOVERNMENT  PRINTINQ  OFFICE  :  1919 


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LETTER  OF  TRANSMITTAL. 

Council  of  National  Defense, 

Washington^  May  i,  1919, 
The  Hon.  Newton  D.  Baker, 

Secreta^^  of  War  and  Chairvian 

of  the  Council  of  National  Defend'. 
My  dear  Mr.  Secretary  : 

Sir:  This  report,  prepared  b}^  the  Keconstruction  Research  Di\i- 
sion,  of  which  Herbert  N.  Shenton  is  chief,  contains  extracts  from 
and  digests  of  articles  concerning  readjustment  and  reconstruction 
activities  in  foreign  countries  which  have  appeared  in  recent  pub- 
lications. The  material  selected  consists,  mainly,  of  accounts  of 
governmental  activities  in  the  organization  and  administration  of 
readjustment  and  reconstruction  work  and  of  similar  activities  of 
important  national  industrial,  commercial,  and  welfare  organiza- 
tions. In  making  this  selection  the  following  publications  were 
consulted : 

Commerce  Reports,  Daily,  August  1,  1918,  to  April  16,  1919.  Pub- 
lished by  the  Bureau  of  Foreign  and  Domestic  Commerce,  United 
States  Department  of  Commerce. 

Other  United  States  official  publications. 
*  Board  of  Trade  Journal,  Weekly,  October  10,  1918,  to  February 
13, 1919.    Published  by  ih^  British  Bokrd  of  Trade. 

The  Bulletin  of  the  Federation  of  British  Industries,  Weekly^ 
November  21,  1918,  and  January  2  and  16,  1919. 

British  Labor  Gazette,  Monthly,  November,  1918,  to  January,  1919. 

Italy  Today,  Fortnightly,  vol.  1,  Nos.  1  to  8. 

Reviews  of  the  foreign  press,  published  by  foreign  Governments. 

American  newspapers  and  other  periodicals,  of  which  an  extensive 
clipping  file  on  the  general  subject  of  readjustment  and  reconstruc- 
tion is  maintained  in  the  office  of  the  Council. 

In  arranging  the  items  for  each  of  the  countries,  no  attempt  has 
been  made  to  bring  related  subjects  together,  the  items  being  ar- 
ranged in  chronological  order  according  to  the  dates  of  publication 
of  the  sources  consulted. 

The  information  given  is  necessaril}^  incomplete  and  fragmentary,, 
but  it  is  believed  that  all  the  important  readjustment  and  reconstruc- 
tion activities  in  foreign  countries,  at  least  those  which  have  occurred 
since  the  date  of  the  signing  of  the  armistice,  were  mentioned  in  the 
sources  used  in  the  preparation  of  this  report. 


438339 


4  LETTER  OF  TRANSMITTAL. 

Althpugh  t^e  Tiit;^os,t  effort  has  been  made  to  check  the  actuality 
of  tKe, ;re|>p)?tVf^aciti vities, ip  enemy  countries,  the  limited  facilities 
for  verification  have  restricted  the  possibilities  of  these  efforts.  It 
is  possible  that  some  of  the  statements  to  which  reference  is  here 
made  were  issued  primarily  as  propaganda.  However,  even  if  this 
be  the  case,  the  statements  have  been  issued  and  the  issued  statements 
are  themselves  active  factors  which  can  not  be  ignored. 

The  digests  of  the  various  reported  activities,  although  they  are 
put  in  the  declarative  form  and  are  not  regularly  preceded  by  some 
such  phrase  as  "  it  is  reported,"  are  to  be  considered  merely  as  digests 
and  not  as  statements  of  the  Council  of  National  Defense. 
Faithfully  yours, 

Grosvenor  B.  Clarkson, 
Director  of  the  Council  of  Nation<il  Defense. 


CONTENTS. 


P-age. 

7 

8 

8 

14 

16 

19 

19 

20 

30 

31 

32 

33 

34 

34 

34 

35 

54 

55 

79 

Hungary 80 

India 83 

International 83 

Italy 86 

Index 


Alsace- Loraine 

Argentina 

Australia 

Austria-Hungary 

Belgium 

Brazil 

Bulgaria 

Canada  

Chile 

China 

Czecho-Slovakia 

Denmark 

European  Countries- 
Finland  

Finland  and  Sweden. 

France 

German- Austria 

Germany 

Greece 


Page. 

Japan 101 

Mexico 102 

Montenegro  - 104 

Netherlands 104 

New  Zealand 107 

Norway 108 

Panama  Canal 109 

Pan  America 109 

Peru 110 

Poland 110 

Portugal 111 

Russia 112 

Russia-Siberia 115 

Scandanavian  Countries 116 

Siberia 117 

South  Africa 117 

Spain 118 

Straits  Settlements 119 

Sweden 120 

Switzerland 120 

Turkey 121 

United  Kingdom 122 

Uruguay 170 

178 


EXTRACTS  FROM  AiND  DIGESTS  OF  ARTICLES  IN  OFFICIAL  AND 

PRIVATE  PERIODICALS  CONCERNING  READJUSTMENT  AND 

RECONSTRUCTION  ACTIVITIES  IN  FOREIGN  COUNTRIES. 


ALSACE-LORRAINE. 

Civil  Government  under  French  Administration. 

According  to  a  decree  of  Xovember  28,  1918,  Alsace-Lorraine  will 
be  administered  as  follows : 

Until  the  signing  of  peace,  civil  government  remains  under  tlie 
direct  authority  of  the  secretar}-  of  the  council  of  the  war  ministry, 
who,  in  so  far  as  he  may  judge  fit,  shall  delegate  it  to  the  under 
secretary  of  state. 

A  representative  of  each  ministerial  department  (and,  if  neces- 
sary, in  each  ministerial  department,  a  representative  of  each  im- 
portant public  service)  is  temporarily  appointed  for  the  purpose 
of  coordinating  and  controlling  throughout  the  recovered  territories 
of  Alsace  and  Lorraine  the  operation  of  the  services  of  the  minis- 
terial department  which  he  represents ;  to  provide  for  proper  connec- 
tion with  the  services  of  that  department  and  to  stud}^  the  condi- 
tions of  final  administrative  organization  after  the  signing  of  peace. 

A  Chief  Council  of  Alsace-Lorraine  will  assist  the  under  secre- 
tary of  state,  who  is  by  right  its  president.  It  will  be  composed  of 
the  president  and  vice  president  of  the  Alsace-Lorraine  Conference 
and  the  presidents  of  the  six  sections  appointed  by  the  decision  of 
August  22,  1917,  for  the  purpose  of  examining  and  studying  the  con- 
ditions of  Alsace-Lorraine. — [Temps,  Nov.  28,  1918.] 

Economic,  Political,  and  Social  Problems. 

Tlie  economic,  political,  and  social  problems  involved  in  the  resto- 
ration of  Alsace-Lorraine  to  France  have  formed  the  subject  of  a 
recent  meeting  of  the  Societe  d'Economie  Politique  de  Paris.  The 
paper  read  before  that  society  November  5,  1918,  deals  with  the  solu- 
tion of  the  problems  of  citizenship  and  property,  and  those  involved 
in  the  general  adjustment  of  the  economic  life  of  the  restored  prov- 
inces to  France. — [Commerce  Reports,  IT.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce, 
Jan.  21,  1919,  p.  321.] 


8  FOREIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

Potash  Output  Needed  for  France. 

The  United  States  War  Trade  Board  has  announced  that  France 
will  be  unable,  at  least  until  April,  to  ship  potash  from  the  mines 
of  Alsace.  The  entire  output  will  be  urgently  required  for  agricul- 
tural purposes  in  France.  Under  the  most  favorable  circumstances 
no  Alsatian  potash  will  be  available  for  agricultural  uses  in  the 
United  States  before  June,  1919. — [Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept. 
of  Commerce,  Jan.  25,  1919,  p.  385.] 

ARGENTINA. 

Agricultural  and  live-stock  Development. 

A  large  banking  and  investment  company  has  been  engaged  in 
Argentina  b}^  the  Swift  packing-house  interests  which  promises  to 
take  an  active  part  in  the  agricultural  and  live-stock  development 
of  the  country.  It  will  engage  to  a  great  extent  in  the  financing  of 
cattlemen  along  the  line  of  the  cattle-loan  companies  in  the  United 
States. — [Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Sept.  12. 
1918,  p.  971.] 

Shipbuilding,  Encouragment  of. 

On  August  31,  1918,  the  President  of  Argentina  submitted  to  Con- 
gress a  project  of  law  relative  to  the,  encouragement  of  shipbuilding, 
in  order  to  augment  the  mercantile  marine  of  that  nation. — [Com- 
merce Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Connnerce,  Nov.  8,  1918,  p.  530.] 

AUSTRALIA. 

Disabled  Soldiers,  State  Help  for. 

Amended  regulations  issued  under  the  Australian  soldiers'  repa- 
triation act  provide  that  a  State  board  shall  not  grant  loans  for  a 
longer  period  than  10  years.  Where  a  borrower  who  has  obtained  a 
loan  from  the  Government  is  unable  to  repay  the  amount  due  from 
him,  a  State  board  may  write  off  the  whole  or  any  portion  of  the 
amount,  but  if  the  sum  exceeds  100  pounds,  it  must  be  referred  to  the 
minister  of  repatriation  for  determination.  Where  soldiers  with  de- 
pendents are  under  treatment  in  hospitals,  or  institutions  after  dis- 
charge, they  or  their  dependents  may  be  given  sustenance  granted  at  a 
rate  which  will  bring  their  incomes  up  to  rates  presented  in  regula- 
tions, which  rates  vary  from  2  pounds  2  shillings  to  3  pounds  2  shill- 
ings and  6  pence.  Where  it  is  necessary  for  the  establishment  in 
civil  life  of  a  returned  soldier,  a  State  board  may  make  a  loan  up  to  35 
pounds  for  the  purchase  of  furniture.  In  case  where  a  soldier  has 
land,  but  is  not  eligible  to  receive  financial  assistance  under  a  State 
settlement  scheme,  a  State  board  may  advance  by  way  of  a  loan 
amounts  up  to  50  pounds  for  the  purchase  of  material,  plants,  and 
seeds. — [Argus,  Melbourne,  July  5,  1918.] 


AUSTRALIA.  ^ 

Discharged  Soldiers,  Land  for. 

Ill  Victoria  a  iiuniber  of  properties  have  been  xxirchased  and  nego- 
tiations for  other  purchases  are  in  progress,  according  to  announce- 
ments by  the  minister  of  lands,  for  soldier  settlers.  A  visitor  to  some 
of  the  soldier  settlers  reported  that  they  appear  to  be  contented  and 
to  be  making  a  success  of  their  rural  life. — [Argus,  Melbourne,  July 
6,  1918.] 

Returned  Soldiers'  Political  Federation. 

The  returned  soldiers'  political  federation  has  been  formed  by  the 
affiliation  of  the  soldiers'  political  parties  in  Victoria,  New  South 
Wales,  and  Queensland.  The  general  secretary  said  the  platform 
provided  for  voluntary  reinforcements,  destruction  of  pro-German- 
ism and  disloyalty,  elimination  of  exploitation,  solution  of  war  and 
repatriation  problems,  construction  of  mercantile  marine,  strategic 
railways,  and  of  numerous  air  fleets,  supplemented  by  adequate 
naval  and  military  measures,  electoral  reform,  elimination  of  party 
strife,  restriction  of  borrowing,  legislation  to  deal  with  menaces  to 
public  health,  and  other  planks.  The  federation  could  not  affiliate 
with  existing  political  parties,  but  would  cooperate  with  them  to 
achieve  common  aims. — [Courier,  Ballarat,  July  6,  1918.] 

Soldiers'  Widows,  Assistance  for. 

The  minister  of  repatriation  stated  that  soldiers'  widows  are  now 
eligible,  according  to  their  circumstances,  to  receive  grants  for 
furniture,  loans  for  the  purchase  of  business  establishments,  assist- 
ance towards  the  transfer  of  onerous  mortgages  on  homes,  rental  al- 
lowances, vocational  training  with  sustenance  during  the  period  of 
training,  and  allowances  for  the  care  and  education  of  children. 
These  benefits  are  not  bestowed  indiscriminately,  but  with  proper 
regard  to  the  necessities  of  the  individual. — ^[Argus,  Melbourne, 
July  11,  1918.] 

Xand  Settlement,  Advances  for. 

The  South  Australian  system  makes  advances  to  soldiers  up  to  600 
pounds  for  purchasing  residences.  This  grant  is  withheld  to  unmar- 
ried men  and  to  those  with  an  income  of  300  pounds  per  annum. 
Where  land  is  bought  with  a  view  to  building,  it  is  stipulated  that 
not  more  than  100  pounds  can  be  paid  for  the  site. — [Argus,  Mel- 
bourne, July  12,  1918.] 

Discharged  Soldiers,  Land  for. 

The  minister  for  lands  of  New  South  Wales  said  that  he  would 
deal  with  the  scheme  for  settling  soldiers  on  the  land  on  the  principle 
of  giving  to  each  man  an  area  sufficient  to  provide  a  living  for 
himself  and  his  family. — [Daily  Telegraph,  Sydney,  July  13,  1918.] 


10  FOREIGN  KE ADJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

Vocational  Training:. 

The  vocations  chosen  by  returned  soldiers  who  have  received  voca- 
tional training  in  Victoria  include  clerical  work,  French  polishing, 
artificial  limb  making,  poultry  farming,  cabinet  making,  book  shiv- 
ing,  fruit  growing,  picture  operating,  and  wool  pressing. — [Argus, 
Melbourne,  July   19,  1918.] 

Approval  was  given  July  23,  1918,  to  a  scheme  for  carrying  on 
vocational  training  for  partly  incapacitated  soldiers  at  State  insti- 
tutions. The  scheme  provides  for  the  continuous  training  of  at  least 
2,000  men  at  the  22  technical  schools. — [Argus,  Melbourne,  July  24, 
1918.] 

Children  of  Fallen  Soldiers,  Scholarships  for. 

The  education  department's  circular  for  August  announces  that  10 
places  in  two  educational  institutions  will  be  reserved  annually  for 
children  of  fallen  and  disabled  soldiers.— [West  Australian,  Aug. 
9,  1918.] 

Community  Settlement  Plan  for  the  Subnormal. 

The  Commonwealth  ministry  of  repatriation  proposes  to  establisli 
community  settlements  where  partially  incapacitated  men  may  be 
employed  with  advantage  to  themselves  in  industries  suited  to  their 
capacit}^  It  is  expected  that  the  majority  of  the  dwellers  in  the  set- 
tlements will  be  engaged  in  the  national  workshops,  but  provision 
will  also  be  made  for  their  employment  in  rural  and  other  industries. 
Each  settlement  will  consist  of  a  workshop  with  housing  accommoda- 
tions for  100  workers  and  social  accessories,  such  as  hall,  school,  and 
church.  The  settlements  will  also  contain  the  convalescent  homes  in- 
stituted by  the  ministry.  The  area  of  each  settlement  will  be  about 
500  acres.— [Argus,  Aug.  29,  1918.] 

Heturned  Soldiers,  Employment  of. 

The  department  of  repatriation  has  called  attention  to  the  returned 
soldiers,  with  varying  trades,  who  are  registered  for  employment,  and 
has  requested  employers  requiring  their  services  to  communicate  with 
the  department. — [West  Australian,  Aug.  31,  1918.] 

Proposed  Aerial  Service  Between  Australia  and  London. 

A  company  has  been  formed  in  Australia  for  the  purpose  of  devel- 
oping an  aerial  route  for  mail  and  passenger  service  between  Aus- 
tralia and  London.  The  purpose  of  the  company  is  to  explore  the 
proposed  route  for  landing  sites  which  are  to  be  approximately  300 
miles  apart.  After  the  completion  of  the  survey  it  is  proposed  to 
finance  a  company  in  London  to  operate  the  aerial  service  to  Aus- 
tralia, which  contemplates  a  complete  journey  in  150  hours  between 
London  and  Sydney. — [Eeport  of  U.  S.  consul,  Adelaide,  Dec.  3, 
1918,  Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Feb.  5,  1919, 
p.  561.] 


AUSTRALIA.  11 

TTnemployment  Insurance. 

An  employment  measure  has  just  been  passed  which  is  still  in  a 
tentative  state,  and  provides,  in  general,  that  a  fund  shall  be  created 
for  each  separate  industry  by  contributions  from  employees  and  em- 
ployers, plus  a  Government  subsidy.  Thus  a  number  of  funds  will  be 
created  and  not  one  big  national  fund.  In  any  industry  in  New  South 
Wales  the  Government  can  form  an  industrial  council  which  creates 
the  fund  which  is  called  "  an  equalization  of  Avages  fund."  The  State 
can  thus  double  this  fund.  The  Government  provides  the  chairman 
for  this  committee  and  the  committee  represents  employers  and  em- 
ployees, while  the  Government  administers  the  fund. — [Interview 
with  the  minister  of  New  South  Wales,  U.  S.  Employment  Service 
Bulletin,  Jan.  24,  1919,  p.  2.] 

Government  Settlement  Plan. 

Large  tracts  of  public  or  purchased  lands  in  New  South  Wales  are 
subdivided  for  settlement  purposes.  The  subdivisions  are  purchased 
by  the  settlers  on  a  33-year  loan  on  easy  terms.  After  a  large  tract  is 
divided  into  connnunity  settlements,  there  is  often  a  Government  ex- 
periment farm  located  in  the  center,  where  a  man  in  charge  acts  as 
adviser.  Most  of  the  farming  is  grains  and  fruits,  also  pig  and 
poultry  raising. — [Interview  with  the  minister  of  New  South  Wales, 
U.  S.  Employment  Service  Bulletin,  Jan.  24,  1919,  p.  2.] 

Land-Settlement  Act,  1916. 

Soldier  settlement  act,  1916,  7,  George  V,  places  the  provisions  of 
the  act  under  the  administration  of  the  land  board  and  land  settle- 
ment advisory  commission  of  South  Australia.  Advances  up  to  $2,400 
will  be  made,  repayable  in  21  years,  at  an  interest  rate  of  4  per  cent; 
$220,000  has  been  appropriated  and  10.000  acres  have  been  purchased 
at  $22  per  acre.  Settlers  will  be  given  a  perpetual  lease.  Training 
will  be  given  on  farms  comprising  similar  land.  By  provisions  of  the 
act  the  board  is  also  empowered  to  make  advances  for  improvements, 
equipment,  stock,  and  seed.  It  may  also  purchase  land  wdrth 
$1,500,000  per  year.  It  is  desirable  that  applicants  have  some  cap- 
ital.— ["Work  and  Homes  for  Our  Fighting  Men,"  Eeclamation 
Service,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  the  Interior,  1919,  pp.  20,  21.] 

Soldier-Settlement  Flans. 

Discharged  soldiers'  settlement  act,  October  22,  1917,  provides  for 
soldier  settlements.  Provisions  of  the  act  will  be  administered  by  the 
Victoria  land  purchase  and  management  board  and  State  water  com- 
mission. Advances  up  to  70  per  cent  of  value  of  improvements,  with 
maximum  of  $2,500  w411  be  made,  repayable  in  31J  years.  Interest 
at  6  per  cent  is  charged.  An  appropriation  of  $11,250,000  has  been 
made  for  this  purpose.    Irrigated  lands  in  Victoria  are  to  be  opened 


12  FOREIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

in  settlements  and  500,000  acres  for  wheat  growing.  Settlers  may 
purchase  their  holdings  in  31J  years  by  depositing  3  per  cent  of  the 
capital  value  and  making  6  per  cent  annual  payments,  principal  and 
interest  thereafter.  Previous  agricultural  experience  is  required 
before  taking  lands.  Applicants  should  have  at  least  $1,500  capital. — 
["Work  and  Homes  for  Our  Fighting  Men,"  Reclamation  Service, 
U.  S.  Dept.  of  the  Interior,  1919,  pp.  20,  21.] 

Returned  soldiers'  settlement  act  No.  21,  1916,  amended  1917,  of 
New  South  Wales,  provides  for  soldier  settlements  under  the  admin- 
istration of  the  minister  for  lands.  By  its  provisions  an  advance  up 
to  $2,600  on  improvements  is  made  to  soldier  settlers.  Interest  at 
2  J  per  cent  of  capital  value  is  charged.  About  1,500,000  acres  have 
been  acquired  on  which  settlers  will  be  given  a  perpetual  lease  at  2J 
per  cent  on  the  capital  value  besides  water  rent.  Settlers  must  have 
six  months  agricultural  experience,  and  education  Avill  be  provided. 
Already  there  are  500  men  on  holdings,  the  average  size  grant  being 
50  acres.  It  is  desirable  that  applicants  have  from  $250  to  $500 
capital. — ["Work  and  Homes  for  Our  Fighting  Men,"  Reclamation 
Service,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  the  Interior,  1919,  pp.  20,  21.] 

Discharged  soldiers'  settlement  act,  1917,  provides  for  soldier  set- 
tlements. The  provisions  of  the  act  will,  in  Queensland,  be  admin- 
istered by  the  minister  for  lands  and  land  court.  Buildings  to  the 
amount  of  $2,500  will  be  built  on  each  farm  and  $3,500  worth  of 
equipment  furnished,  payment  for  which  can  be  made  in  anywhere 
from  10  to  40  years.  Interest  at  from  1^  to  5  per  cent  will  be  charged, 
according  to  length  of  the  loan.  The  sum  of  $50,000  for  administra- 
.tion  expenses  has  been  provided.  Sixty  thousand  acres  of  Crown 
lands  have  been  set  aside  and  500,000  acres  acquired  by  agreement  or 
compulsorily.  Settlers  will  be  given  a  perpetual  lease  only,  no  fee 
simple  title.  Training  farms  will  be  established.  Applications  for 
farms  can  be  made  by  relatives  of  soldiers,  and  terms  can  await  their 
return. — ["Work  and  Homes  for  Our  Fighting  Men,"  Reclamation 
Service,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  the  Interior,  1919,  pp.  20,  21.] 

Returned  soldiers'  settlement  act,  1916,  7,  George  V.  20,  provides 
for  soldier  settlements.  Administration  of  provisions  of  the  act  in 
Tasmania  will  be  under  the  minister  of  lands.  Advances  up  to  $2,500 
are  made  to  soldiers,  to  be  repaid  in  21  years,  no  payment  the  first 
year.  Three  and  one-half  to  5  per  cent  interest  is  charged.  An  ap- 
propriation of  $750,000  has  been  made  for  this  purpose.  A  grant  of 
100  acres  will  be  made  each  settler  on  a  99-year  lease  or  purchase  after 
10  years.  Experience  is  necessary,  and  training  may  be  obtained  at 
State  farms.  There  will  be  no  taxes  for  four  years,  and  loans  may 
be  made  for  clearing,  fencing,  drains,  equipment,  and  seed. — ["  Work 
and  Homes  for  Our  Fighting  Men,"  Reclamation  Service,  U.  S.  Dept. 
of  the  Interior,  1919,  pp.  20,  21.] 


AUSTRALIA.  13 

At  a  conference  in  191T  of  Federal  and  State  authorities  a  board 
consisting  of  the  minister  from  each  State  was  appointed  to  work  out 
plans  for  advancing  money  to  soldiers  desiring  to  settle  on  Govern- 
ment lands.  One  hundred  million  dollars  was  appropriated  for  the 
purpose  of  buying  land  and  making  loans  to  soldier  settlers.  Cir- 
culars were  sent  out  to  soldiers  and  it  was  found  that  40,000  soldiers 
wanted  land.  At  the  time  circular  was  sent  out  there  were  300,000 
soldiers. — ["  Work  and  Homes  for  Our  Fighting  Men,"  Keclamation 
Service,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  the  Interior,  1919,  pp.  20,  21.] 
Oovernment  Factories. 

The  Commonwealth  of  Australia  owns  and  operates  five  factories 
— clothing,  cordite,  harness  and  saddlery,  woolen-fabrics,  and  small- 
arms.  The  report  of  the  small- arms  factory  has  not  yet  been 
audited,  but  the  total  output  of  the  other  four  factories  from  the  date 
of  their  opening  to  June  30,  1918,  has  amounted  to  $13,997,225.  The 
total  cost  of  operating  these  factories  since  their  establishment  has 
been  $13,786,075,  which  includes  depreciation  of  plant  and  buildings, 
and  interest  on  capital  investment  amounting  to  $2,392,950.  The 
operation  of  the  factories  was  recently  investigated  by  a  royal  com- 
mission, which  congratulated  the  defense  department  upon  the  effi- 
ciency of  the  works,  particularly  the  woolen-fabrics  factory,  which 
supplied  the  Government  with  materials  said  by  the  commission 
to  be  superior  to  goods  supplied  by  outside  contractors.  The  woolen- 
fabrics  and  clothing  factories  have  not  only  fully  supplied  the  Aus- 
tralian troops  at  home  and  abroad,  and  the  employees  of  the  post- 
master  general's  department,  but  have  provided  returning  soldiers 
with  civilian  clothes  at  a  cost,  for  pure  wool,  no  higher  than  that 
formerly  prevailing  for  cotton  and  shoddy  garments. — [Commerce 
Eeport,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Mar.  12,  1919,  p.  1166.] 
TTnemployment. 

To  take  care  of  unemployed  returned  soldiers,  the  Federal  Gov- 
ernment of  Australia  has  appropriated  $2,500,000  to  construct  pub- 
lic works  pending  completion  of  a  larger  scheme  to  provide  work  for 
home-coming  Anzacs,  along  permanent  lines. — [The  Public,  New 
York,  N.  Y.,  Mar.  22,  1919,  p.  310.] 
Vocational  Training  for  Soldiers. 

The  Australian  cabinet  has  approved  a  plan  for  the  expenditure 
of  $6,500,000  in  the  extension  of  vocational  training  to  returning 
soldiers  who  were  under  20  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  enlistment. — 
[The  Public,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Mar.  29,  1919,  p.  331.] 
Shorter  Hours  Urged  as  Means  of  Solving  Unemployment  Problem. 

As  a  means  of  solving  the  unemployment  problem,  the  trades  hall 
council  of  Melbourne  have  inaugurated  a  movement  for  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  44-hour  week  in  all  industries  in  Australia.     They 


14  FOREIGIs^  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

point  out  that  the  increased  productivity  during  the  war,  the  stop- 
page of  work  since  the  signing  of  the  armistice,  and  the  demobiliza- 
tion of  soldiers  have  increased  the  unemployment  problem. — [Amer- 
ican, Xew  York,  N.  Y.,  Apr.  14,  1919.] 

Government  Training  Returned  Soldiers. 

The  State  of  New  South  Wales  will  bear  the  cost  of  training  re- 
turned soldiers  for  the  government  railwaj-  workshops.  The  step 
will  be  taken  in  order  to  replace  men  who  are  leaving  the  shops 
through  natural  causes,  and  also  to  meet  contemplated  extensions  of 
the  railway. — [Republican.  Springfield,  Mass.,  Apr.  22,  1919.] 
Public  Works  Construction. 

A  bistate  scheme  of  public  works  construction,  involving  an  ex- 
penditure of  nearly  $12,500,000  and  offering  ample  employment  to 
returned  Anzacs,  has  been  approved  by  a  joint  commission  from  the 
States  of  Victoria  and  Xew^  South  Wales. — [Republican,  Springfield, 
Mass.,  Apr.  29,  1919.] 
Aerial  Service. 

A  company  called  Aircraft  (Ltd.)  has  been  organized  for  the 
purpose  of  establishing  an  interstate  air  service  w^hich  expects  to 
begin  operations  in  the  course  of  9  or  10  months.  Regular  aerial 
service,  charging  2^  pence  per  mile,  will  be  operated  between  the 
capital  cities  of  the  Commonwealth.  The  planes  will  probably  carry 
20  passengers  each  and  maintain  a  speed  of  100  miles  an  hour.  It  is- 
thought  that  a  commercial  air  service  could  profitably  carry  good& 
at  the  rate  of  1  shilling  per  ton  per  mile.  This  service  would  be 
especially  useful  in  conveying  garden  produce  and  similar  perish- 
able goods. — [Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  May  5,. 
1919,  p.  676.] 

AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 

[See  also  German- Austria  and  Hungary.] 
Collieries,  Public  Ownership  of. 

An  appendix  to  the  mining  law^,  which  will  shortly  come  into- 
force,  has  for  its  object  the  giving  to  the  central  Government,  the 
provincial  administrations,  and  the  municipalities,  facilities  for 
producing  coal  on  their  own  account  sufficient  to  cover  their  own 
consumption. — [Neue  Freie  Presse,  Mar.  19,  1918.] 
Transition  Organization. 

In  March,  1917,  a  general  committee  for  war  and  transition 
economy  was  attached  to  the  ministry  of  commerce.  It  is  chiefly 
concerned  with  the  Austro-Hungarian  commercial  and  shipping 
policy  in  the  transition  period.  The  commissioner  general  for  war 
and  transition  economy  has  published  a  pamphlet  on  the  tasks  and 
fundamental  questions  of  transition  economy,  from  which  it  becomes 


AUSTRIA-HUNGARY.  15 

evident  that  a  certain  amount  of  Government  regulation  will  have 
to  continue  for  some  time  after  the  war,  in  order  to  avoid  certain 
grave  evils  and  inflation  of  prices. — [Hansa,  1918.] 
Transition  Economy,  Ministerial  Commission  for. 

The  dissolution  of  the  Austrian  ministry  for  transition  economy 
has  been  completed.  The  Government  has  ordered  the  creation  of 
a  ministerial  transition  economy  commission  to  prepare  and  ac- 
celerate the  agenda  of  transition  economy.  A  central  committee  has 
also  been  formed  to  deal  with  matters  connected  with  import,  ex- 
port, and  transit  trade. — [Wirtschaftszeitung  der  Zentralmacht^, 
July  12,  1918.] 
Transition  Economy,  Committee  of  Private  Organization  to  Deal  with. 

The  imperial  union  of  German  industrial  associations  has  com- 
bined with  the  imperial  handicrafts  council,  the  German- Austrian 
industrial  association,  the  central  association  of  economic  coopera- 
tive societies,  and  the  chief  industrial  associations  of  employees  in 
forming  an  industrial  central  committee  which  is  to  take  over  the 
functions  of  the  war  economic  association  for  industries,  and  is  to 
be  considered  as  the  general  representative  of  industries  as  regards 
legislation  and  administration. — [Wirtschaftszeitung  der  Zentral- 
niachte,  Aug.  23,  1918.] 
War  Material,  Utilization  and  Release  of. 

In  order  to  supply  the  necessary  organization  for  the  utilization 
of  war  material  three  departments  have  been  formed:  The  "war 
material  utilization  office"  in  the  Austro-Hungarian  war  ministry, 
the  ''  common  distribution  committee  "  (gemeinsame  verteilungsaus- 
schuss),  and  the  "special  committee  for  the  release  of  war  ma- 
terials." 

The  first  department  decides  what  war  material  is  to  be  retained 
for  military  purposes  and  what  material  is  to  be  released  for  civilian 
use,  the  second  manages  the  apportionment  of  the  released  material 
between  Austria-Hungary  and  Bosnia,  and  the  third  has  to  see  to 
the  reemployment  of  the  released  material. 

Special  "  utilization  companies  "  are  to  form  the  superstructure  of 
the  organization. — [Wirtschaftsdienst,  Aug.  30,  1918.] 

Consumptive  ex-Soldiers,  Treatment  of. 

The  Austrian  ministry  for  national  health  has  announced  an 
arrangement  according  to  which  consumptive  war-disabled  soldiers 
will  be  handed  over  to  the  civil  authorities.  These  will  place  them 
either  in  convalescent  homes  or  with  private  families  where  the  liv- 
ing conditions  are  suitable.  The  patients  will  be  taught  some  craft, 
and  eventually  suitable  places  will  be  found  for  them.  Those  placed 
in  private  families  will  be  under  the  care  of  Government  doctors,  and 
the  families  will  be  paid  for  their  board  and  lodging. — [Neue  Freie 
Presse,  Sept.  8,  1918.] 


16  FOREIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

War-Disabled  Men,  Technical  Assistance  for. 

An  association  was  formed  in  Austria  four  years  ago  known  as  the 
association  for  providing  technical  assistance  for  the  war  disabled.— 
[Neue  Freie  Presse,  Sept.  17, 1918.] 
Beconstruction  Conference,  Ministerial. 

Early  in  September,  1918,  a  reconstruction  conference  was  held  at 
the  ministry  of  public  works  in  Vienna,  attended  by  representatives 
of  all  the  ministries  and  by  the  leaders  of  the  sections  of  the  recon- 
struction central.  Various  measures  were  issued  to  hasten  the  speedy 
building  of  dwellings  and  of  providing  the  necessary  materials  for 
the  devastated  section  of  Galicia  and  to  secure  a  supply  of  seed  and 
corn. — [Nova-Eeforma,  Sept.  17, 1918.] 

BELGIUM. 

Reconstruction. 

A  number  of  Belgian  manufacturers  and  traders  whose  business 
establishments  are  in  Paris,  London,  and  The  Hague  propose  to  form 
a  purchasing  body  intended  to  insure  a  supply  of  tools  and  stock 
for  Belgian  industries  and  trade  during  the  transition  period,  with 
the  assistance  of  the  Government.  It  is  a  cooperative  society,  en- 
titled "  Comptoir  National  pour  I'Activite  Economique  en  Bel- 
gique." — [Informations  Beiges,  Apr.  19,  1918.] 

Reconstruction,  Industrial  and  Agricultural. 

An  Interallied  Commission  for  the  Industrial  and  Agricultural  Re- 
construction of  Belgium  has  been  sitting  for  some  time  and  has  been 
dealing  with  the  practical  side  of  the  reconstruction  of  Belgium.  Its 
main  center  of  activity  is  London. — [Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept. 
of  Commerce.  Dec.  7, 1918,  p.  920.] 
Import  Licenses. 

Licenses  for  the  importation  of  foodstuffs,  clothing,  textiles,  and 
tobacco  are  issued  by  the  ministry  of  industry,  labor,  and  revictualiz- 
ing.  Licenses  for  importation  of  all  other  commodities  (except  cer- 
tain foods  and  fats  which  require  no  licenses)  are  issued  by  the  min- 
ister of  economic  affairs. — [U.  S.  War  Trade  Board  Ruling  488,  Com- 
merce Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Jan.  9,  1919,  p.  114.] 
Preparing  for  Resumption  of  Trade. 

The  Belgian  Government  has  taken  steps  in  the  direction  of  the 
reconstruction  of  trade  and  industry.  Among  the  measures  adopted 
is  the  immediate  granting  of  ample  credits  to  business  concerns 
which  have  suffered  from  fires,  without  their  having  to  wait  for  the 
effect  of  the  war  indemnity,  which  has  still  to  be  legally  fixed.  They 
are  only  to  be  granted  to  business  concerns  whose  activities  are  in 
the  interest  of  the  general  community,  which  are  of  Belgian  nation- 
ality, and  can  show  that  they  are  actually  and  directly  needed. 


BELGIUM.  17 

President  Wilson,  in  his  message  to  Congress,  said  that  an  indemnity 
in  money  was  insufficient,  and  that  Belgium  must  not  be  left  to  her 
own  resources  in  the  general  struggle  for  raw  materials  and  tools. 
Belgian  manufacturers  interpret  this  as  meaning  that  Germany 
will  have  to  pay  an  indemnity  not  only  in  money  but  in  materials. 
Belgium  is  already  endeavoring  to  resume  and  develop  her  commer- 
cial relations  with  the  Argentine.  It  is  intended  to  take  Germany's 
place  as  an  importer  to  that  country  and  to  encourage  especially  the 
export  to  Belgium  of  raw  materials  and  foodstuffs  from  the  Argen- 
tine.—[Wirtschaftsdienst,  Jan.  10, 1919.] 

Export  and  Import  Control. 

In  accord  with  a  royal  decree  of  November  8,  a  comite  des  ex- 
portations  et  importations  is  to  act  in  an  advisory  capacity  to  the 
minister  of  economic  affairs  in  controlling  imports,  exports,  and 
goods  in  transit.— [Official  U.  S.  Bulletin,  Jan.  14,  1919.] 

Bepatriation. 

The  first  consignment  of  Belgian  refugees  seeking  shelter  in  Eng- 
land and  Scotland  has  been  returned  to  Antwerp.  Those  living  in 
other  parts  of  Belgium  will  be  sent  as  soon  as  they  can  be  received. 
The  repatriation  is  at  the  expense  of  the  British  Government. — 
[Star,  Washington,  D.  C,  Jan.  14, 1919.] 

Railroad  Equipment  Loan. 

Belgium  has  asked  the  United  States  for  a  loan  of  400  locomotives 
and  2,000  passenger  cars  in  addition  to  the  return  of  all  the  Belgian 
locomotives  placed  at  the  disposal  of  the  American  Expeditionary 
Forces.— [Official  U.  S.  Bulletin,  Feb.  7.  1919 ;  Wall  Street  Journal, 
New  York,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  8,  1919.] 
Credit  for  Manufacturing  to  Reduce  Unemployment. 

The  Belgian  Government  has  asked  the  Allied  Powers  for  credit 
with  which  to  recommence  manufacturing  and  alleviate  unemploy- 
ment.—[Post,  Washington,  D.  C,  Feb.  11,  1919.] 

Import  Restrictions  Removed. 

Many  restrictions  on  Belgian  imports  have  been  removed.  The 
remaining  exceptions  are  cereals,  sugar,  tobacco,  wines,  spirits,  malt, 
and  coal.— [Official  U.  S.  Bulletin,  Feb.  13,  1919.] 

Exports. 

According  to  an  official  Belgian  statement,  all  exports  from  that 
country  are  prohibited  except  under  license. — [Official  T^.  S.  Bulletin, 
Feb.  14.  1919.] 
Belgian  Indemnity  Investigation. 

The  Peace  Conference  appointed,  on  February  15,  a  special  com- 
mittee to  study  the  claims  of  Belgium  for  indemnity'.     This  com- 
115488—19 2 


18  FOREIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

mittee  will  consult  with  the  Belgian  commission  in  possession  of 
figures  as  to  Belgium's  loss.— [Sun,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  16,  1919.] 
Finances. 

London  bankers  are  said  to  be  anxious  to  invest  heavily  in  financing 
Belgium's  renascent  industries.  Nevertheless,  the  Belgian  financial 
institutions  have  taken  steps  to  establish  a  large  credit  in  the  United 
States;  $100,000,000  is  being  asked  for  and  a  first  advance  of  $50,- 
000,000  actually  being  prepared  by  American  bankers,  for  it  is  here 
that  raw  materials  and  machinery  for  the  upbuilding  of  the  Belgian 
industries  will  largely  have  to  be  bought.  This  credit,  it  is  expressly 
stated,  has  nothing  to  do  with  so-called  "  rehabilitation  financing " 
and  is  on  a  purely  business  basis,  as  beneficial  to  American  in- 
dustry as  it  is  to  the  Belgian.  Neither  the  United  States  nor  the 
Belgian  Government  is  directly  concerned  in  the  transactions, 
though  both,  of  course,  have  to  consent  to  them  and  are  interested 
in  so  important  an  operation. — [The  Survey,  New  York,  N.  Y., 
Mar.  1,  1919,  p.  795.] 

Conflict  in  Handling  Reconstruction. 

Miss  A.  Euth  Fry,  in  charge  of  the  London  committee  of  the 
Friends'  War  Victims  Relief  Committee,  in  a  recent  speech  revealed 
many  facts  as  to  how  Belgium  is  attempting  to  handle  her  reconstruc- 
tion problem.  Miss  Fry's  speech  may  be  summarized  as  follows: 
Belgium  for  many  years  has  been  divided  by  race — the  Walloons  and 
the  Flemish.  In  recent  years  there  has  been  considerable  strife  be- 
tween the  Catholics  and  the  Socialists  which,  if  anything,  has  been 
increased  in  intensity  by  the  events  of  the  war.  There  is  now  added 
a  new  factor  of  misunderstanding — the  emigres  and  the  nonemigres, 
those  who  fled  before  the  invader  and  those  who  remained  through 
all  the  hardships.  In  Paris,  under  the  wings  of  the  Allies,  a  com- 
mittee of  Belgians  have  been  working  and  planning  for  the  re- 
construction of  the  country.  At  the  same  time  other  committees 
have  been  evolving  their  own  plans  under  the  shadow  of  the  invader. 
Neither  of  these  two  groups  knew  of  the  existence  of  the  other  until 
after  the  armistice.  Therefore,  when  the  chairman  of  the  Paris  com- 
mittee went  to  Brussels  he  found  himself  and  his  work  unknown, 
and  his  plans  did  not  harmonize  in  all  particulars  with  those  who  had 
remained  at  home.  He  also  found  that  three  ministries  of  the  Bel- 
gian Government  were  each  separately  concerned  in  directing  this 
work — the  ministry  of  the  interior,  the  ministry  of  public  works,  and 
the  ministry  of  economic  reconstruction.  To-day  Belgian  relief  is  a 
mixture  of  stagnation  and  luxury.  Food  is  scarce  and  prices  are 
high,  yet  luxuries  are  plentiful  as  compared  to  necessities.  The  Bel- 
gian Government  is  anxious  to  assume  control  of  its  own  relief  work 
and  has  even  seemed  ungrateful  in  its  refusal  of  offers  of  relief. — 
[The  Survey,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Apr.  5,  1919,  p.  60.] 


BULGARIA.  19 

BRAZIL. 

Protection  of  Allied  Trade. 

The  Portuguese,  French,  and  Italian  Chambers  of  Conunerce  in 
Brazil  have  decided  to  request  their  respective  Governments  to  dis- 
charge from  the  army  those  individuals  who  as  managers,  directors, 
etc.,  of  large  concerns  might  be  able  to  contribute  toward  the  exten- 
sion of  the  influence  of  the  Allies  in  Brazil,  in  order  to  counteract 
the  influence  of  Germany,  which  is  purposing  to  regain  Brazilian 
trade  after  the  war. — [Norddeutsche  AUgemeine  Zeitung,  May  21, 
1918.] 

Domestic  Agricultural  Production. 

Since  the  entrance  of  Brazil  into  the  war,  great  efforts  have  been 
made  to  increase  domestic  production  of  agricultural  crops,  in  order 
to  avoid  using  tonnage  in  importing  commodities  which  might  be 
produced  in  Brazil  and  to  assist  the  Allied  Nations  in  making  up  the 
shortage  of  food  and  other  essential  war  supplies. — [Commerce  Re- 
ports, U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Aug.  28, 1918,  p.  788.] 

Industries  Stimulated  by  War  Conditions. 

The  Brazilian  minister  of  foreign  affairs  has  requested  the  gov- 
ernors of  the  several  States  to  report  upon  the  economic  situation  of 
the  districts  under  their  jurisdiction,  especially  with  regard  to  the 
establishment  of  new  industrial  plants  since  the  beginning  of  the 
European  War.  These  reports  are  published  in  detail  as  received. — 
[Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Oct.  19, 1918,  p.  262.] 
CoflPee. 

Over  500,000  bags  of  coffee  are  ready  for  shipment  to  the  United 
States,  requiring  10  steamers  during  the  next  six  weeks. — [Report  of 
U.  S.  commercial  attache,  Jan.  12,  1919,  Commerce  Reports,  U.  S. 
Dept.  of  Commerce,  Jan.  28,  1919,  p.  417.] 
Japanese  Colonization  and  Development. 

By  a  decree  issued  December  11,  1918,  the  Vice  President  of 
Brazil  has  authorized  all  Japanese  international  development  to 
continue  to  operate  in  Brazil.  A  commission  has  been  organized  to 
engage  in  immigration  and  colonization  projects,  and  related  mari- 
time, industrial,  and  mineral  industries.  Its  capital  stock  is  about 
$4,500,000. — [Report  of  U.  S.  vice  consul,  Rio.  de  Janeiro,  Dec.  14, 
1918,  Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Feb.  14,  1919, 
p.  735.] 

BULGARIA. 
Transition  Economy. 

Preparations  are  to  be  made  for  the  organization  of  transition 
economy  in  Bulgaria  by  the  creation  of  an  autonomous  bureau  in  the 
ministry  of  trade.  To  this  bureau  will  be  intrusted  the  task  of  or- 
ganizing the  economic  life  of  the  country  during  the  transition 


20  FOREIGX   READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

period  immediately  following  the  war,  and  of  working-  out  a  plan 
for  the  commercial  treaties  to  be  concluded  with  foreign  nations. — 
[Der  Welthandel,  Aug.  16,  1918.] 

Economic  Conditions,  Report  of. 

A  report  has  been  issued  by  the  director  general  of  alimentation, 
who  has  recently  made  a  tour  of  the  country  to  ascertain  actual  con- 
ditions.— [Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Nov.  14, 
1918,  p.  621.] 

CANADA. 

Discharged  Soldiers  in  Search  of  Land,  Reduced  Fares  for. 

An  agreement  has  been  made  between  the  soldiers'  settlement  board 
and  the  Canadian  railways,  by  which  returned  soldiers  who  are  in 
search  of  land  may  obtain  vouchers  permitting  them  to  travel  at 
the  rate  of  1  cent  a  mile.  Each  application  for  a  voucher  for  the 
reduced  fare  must  be  accompanied  by  a  certified  copy  of  the  original 
discharge  certificate  of  the  soldier. — [Morning  Bulletin,  Edmonton 
and  Alberta,  July  24,  1918.] 

Disabled  Soldiers,  Treatment,  Reeducation,  and  Employment  of. 

The  work  that  Canada  has  done  and  is  doing  for  her  disabled  sol- 
diers in  the  way  of  hospital  treatment  and  reeducation  is  fully  set 
forth  in  a  five-reel  serial  produced  by  the  department  of  soldiers 
civil  reestablishment,  entitled  "  Canada's  Work  for  Wounded  Sol- 
diers." It  will  be  exhibited  in  theaters  throughout  Canada.  The 
film  shows  every  phase  of  the  work  from  the  deck  of  the  hospital 
ship  in  a  Canadian  port,  to  the  shop,  office,  or  farm  where  the  re- 
turned-soldier  is  working  after  having  been  educated  at  Government 
expense.  The  film  took  eight  months  to  complete. — [;\torning  Al- 
bertain,  Calgary,  Aug.  28,  1918.] 

Disabled  Soldiers,  Reeducation  of. 

An  order-in-counoil  passed  in  July,  1916,  empowers  the  invalid 
soldiers  commission  of  the  department  for  civil  reestablishment  to 
grant  reeducational  courses  to  discharged  soldiers  who,  as  a  result  of 
their  disability  received  in  service,  are  unable  to  carry  on  their 
former  occupations.  These  courses  extend  over  a  period  of  from 
3  to  12  months  and  are  given  in  schools  and  colleges  equipped  and 
staffed  by  the  men,  and  in  factories  and  industries  whose  directors 
are  willing  to  train  men.  As  soon  as  a  man  joins  a  vocational  class 
he  receives  an  allowance  equal  to  the  highest  rate  of  pension,  and 
the  pension  previously  allotted  to  him  is  suspended.  As  soon  as  a 
man's  course  of  training  is  completed  his  former  pension  is  resumed, 
subject  only  to  medical  reexamination.  During  the  period  of  train- 
ing, the  disabled  men  are  given  free  medical  attention,  their  homes 
are  visited,  and  the  welfare  of  their  families  is  furthered  in  every 


CANADA.  21 

way  by  the  commission.  When  the  men  have  completed  their  courses 
every  effort  is  made  by  the  commission  to  secure  employment  for 
them,  and  the  commission  keeps  in  touch  with  them  as  loner  as  possible 
after  they  go  out. — [Daily  Gleaner,  Montreal,  Aug.  31,  1918.'| 

Government  Encouragement  of  Flax  Spinning. 

An  order-in-council  was  passed  by  the  Canadian  Government  on 
September  3,  offering  a  bonus  to  Canadian  manufacturers  installing 
machinery  and  producing  Canadian-made  linens,  threads,  and  yarns. 
Negotiations  are  under  way  between  textile  manufacturers,  the  Gov- 
ernment, and  the  war  trade  board  to  start  the  industry. — [British 
Board  of  Trade  Journal,  Nov.  7,  1918.  p.  588.] 

Financing  of  Provincial  and  Municipal  Public  Improvements. 

As  a  result  of  the  rescinding  of  war-time  restrictions  upon  the 
issue  of  provincial  and  municipal  securities,  there  Avill  be  a  brisk  de- 
mand for  money  from  Manitoba  and  Saskatchewan  municipalities 
during  1919.  During  the  past  four  years  a  great  deal  of  public  work 
has  been  postponed  until  the  end  of  the  war,  and  there  is  a  disposi- 
tion now  to  start  work  on  all  these  improvements. — [Commerce 
Eeports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Dec.  9,  1918.,  p,  939.] 
Export  Trade,  Organization  for  Development  of. 

An  important  step  toward  securing  for  Canada  a  substantial  expan- 
sion of  its  export  trade  was  the  creation  of  a  Canadian  Trade  Com- 
mission, with  headquarters  at  Ottawa.  It  will  closely  cooperate  with 
the  Canadian  Trade  Mission  in  London  with  a  view  to  securing  for 
Canadian  producers  a  share  in  the  business  arising  out  of  the  recon- 
struction work  in  France  and  Belgium  and  in  other  war-devastated 
parts  of  Europe.  The  commission  will  be  concerned  chiefly  with 
postwar  export  trade.  The  Canadian  Trade  Mission  has  been  estab- 
lished in  London,  through  which  the  Canadian  Government  is  kept 
directly  in  touch  with  the  activities  and  deliberations  of  the  agencies 
concerned,  with  a  view  to  securing  orders  for  Canadian  products  for 
reconstruction  purposes  in  the  devastated  areas  and  for  the  promo- 
tion generally  of  the  Canadian  export  trade. — [Commerce  Reports, 
U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Dec.  21, 1918,  p.  1106;  Feb.  8,  1919,  p.  621- 
British  Board  of  Trade  Journal,  Jan.  23,  1919,  p.  99.] 

Price  Regulations. 

New  cost  of  living  regulations  have  been  issued  by  the  Government 
providing  for  extending  facilities  of  investigations,  for  the  publica- 
tion of  fair  prices,  and  for  prosecution  by  municipalities  or  by  the 
minister  of  labor  in  addition  to  the  present  method  of  prosecution 
by  the  provincial  attorney  general.  The  new  regulations  make  it 
possible  to  investigate  rentals  and  authorize  procedure  against  hotels 
and  restaurants  which  sell  necessaries  of  life  at  a  price  higher  than 


22  FOREIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

is  reasonable  and  just. — [Monthly  Labor  Review,  U.   S.  Dept.  of 
Labor,  December,  1918,  pp.  150,  151.] 

Labor  Policy. 

Several  resolutions  were  adopted  at  the  conference  of  the  Trades 
and  Labor  Congress  of  Canada,  held  in  Quebec,  September  16  and  21. 
These  include  one  asking  that  a  six-hour  day  shall  apply  to  all  under- 
ground mine  workers  and  an  eight-hour  day  to  all  surface  workers  in 
all  mining  properties  in  the  Dominion ;  one  declaring  for  a  six-hour 
day  and  a  five-day  week  for  all  labor ;  one  asking  for  a  complete  con- 
trol by  Canada  of  her  immigration  policy,  the  discontinuance  of 
bonuses  to  immigration  agents,  literary  tests  for  immigrants,  pro- 
hibition of  immigration  until  the  returned  soldiers  have  been  pro- 
vided with  employment,  registration  of  immigrants,  and  legislation 
against  the  entry  of  Asiatics.  Indorsement  is  given  of  Government 
ownership  of  railwaj^s.  The  Government  is  asked  to  ado])t  an  old- 
age  pension  scheme,  and  establish  a  department  of  health. — [Monthly 
Labor  Review,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor,  December.  1918,  pp.  355-357.] 

Maintenance  of  War  TariflP. 

A  private  organization  which  has  the  backing  of  the  Canadian 
Manufacturers'  Association  is  of  the  belief  that  the  one  economic 
solution-  of  Canada's  financial  burdens  comes  through  the  main- 
tenance of  the  present  tariff  on  which  there  was  a  7|  per  cent  increase 
all  aroimd  in  1915  as  a  war  measure. — [The  Survey,  New  York, 
N.  Y.,  Jan.  4,  1919,  p.  442.] 

Demobilization  and  Rehabilitation. 

The  militia  department,  the  department  of  soldiers'  civil  reestab- 
lishment,  and  the  labor  department  in  cooperation  with  other 
branches  of  the  Government  are  completing  their  organization  to  deal 
with  the  problems  of  finding  employment  for  the  soldiers  as  soon  as 
possible  after  they  land,  and  of  restoring  them  to  a  satisfactory  status 
in  civil  life.  The  medical  branch  of  the  militia  department  has 
charge  of  the  sick  and  wounded. 

The  depai-tment  of  soldiers'  civil  reestablishment  which  has  been 
formed  within  the  last  year  will  care  for  the  restoration  of  disabled 
men  to  fitness  for  their  old  employment  and  vocational  training  to 
men  who  desire  to  acquire  knowledge  of  new  trades. 

The  board  of  pension  commission  are  intrusted  with  the  important 
matter  of  soldiers'  pensions. 

The  repatriation  committee  has  for  its  duties  the  coordinating  of 
these  various  activities,  devising  new  policies,  and  insuring  against 
any  overlapping. — [The  Survey,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  4,  1919, 
p.  441.] 


CANADA.  23 

Soldier-Settlement  Plans. 

An  act  of  the  Dominion  Government  of  August  29,  1917,  provides 
for  a  soldier-settlement  board  of  three  members  and  advisory  boards 
in  each  province.  By  its  provisions  advances  of  $2,500  are  made 
to  soldiers  on  first  mortgage,  repayable  in  two  equal  payments,  the 
first  two  payments  being  deferred.  Interest  at  5  per  cent  is  charged. 
An  appropriation  of  $2,916,000  has  been  made  for  this  purpose.  All 
Dominion  lands  within  15  miles  of  railroads  have  b5en  reserved. 
Free  entry  of  160  acres  is  provided  at  demonstration  farms  or  with 
approved  farmers  at  current  wages.  Applications  from  606  persons 
for  $690,800  have  been  approved,  but  no  colonies  have  yet  been 
established.  Special  transportation  rates  have  been  made  for  the 
settlers.  Applicants  must  have  some  capital  in  order  to  secure 
loans.-T-["  Work  and  Homes  for  our  Fighting  Men,"  Reclamation 
Service,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  the  Interior,  1919,  pp.  20,  21.] 

Act  150,  1916,  of  the  Province  of  Ontario,  provides  for  soldier 
settlements,  under  the  supervision  of  the  deputy  minister  of  lands. 

By  its  provisions  the  Dominion  amount  of  $2,500  and  provincial 
amount  of  $500  for  stock  and  tools  are  advanced  to  soldiers  on  first 
mortgage  repayable  in  20  years.  Interest  at  5  per  cent  is  charged 
on  the  Dominion  amount  of  $2,500  and  6  per  cent  is  charged  on  the 
provincial  amount  of  $500.  .  An  appropriation  of  $5,000,000  has 
been  made  for  this  purpose.  One  hundred  acres  have  been  set  aside 
for  each  settler — 10  acres  cleared  cooperatively.  Training  is  pro- 
vided at  the  Monteith  experiment  farm  at  a  wage  rate  of  $2.50  a 
day  to  single  men,  and  $1.10  a  da,y  to  married  men  with  $20  a  month 
to  wife  and  $6  a  month  for  each  child.  There  is  already  one  colony 
of  40  men,  24  men  in  training,  and  500  applications  on  file.  Appli- 
cants must  have  some  capital  in  order  to  secure  loans. — ["  Work  anu 
Homes  for  our  Fighting  Men,"  Reclamation  Service,  U.  S.  Dept.  of 
the  Interior,  1919,  pp.  20,  21.] 

Under  an  act  designated  as  6  George  V.  9,  April,  1916,  soldier 
settlements  are  provided  for  under  the  administration  of  the  farm- 
settlement  board  of  New  Brunswick.  By  its  provisions  the  Do- 
minion amount  of  $2,500  and  a  provincial  amount  ranging  anywhere 
from  $500  to  $1,500  will  be  advanced  to  settlers  on  first  mortgage 
repayable  in  20  years.  Twenty  thousand  acres  have  been  set  aside, 
each  farm  to  be  from  10  to  100  acres  in  size.  Training  is  provided 
at  demonstration  farms,  and  employment  can  be  obtained  until 
farms  are  taken  up.  It  is  desirable  that  applicants  have  from  $500 
to  $2,000  capital— ["AYork  and  Homes  for  our  Fighting  Men," 
Reclamation  Service,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  the  Interior,  1919,  pp.  20,  21.] 

Under  an  act  designated  as  6  George  Y.  59,  1916,  the  government 
of  British  Columbia  provided  for  soldier  settlements  under  the  ad- 


24  FOREIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

ministration  of  the  agricultural  credit  commission.  By  its  pro- 
visions the  Dominion  amount  of  $2,500  and  an  additional  fund  to  be 
provided  is  advanced  to  soldiers  on  first  mortgages  repayable  in  20 
years.  Interest  at  5  per  cent  is  charged.  The  board  is  empowered 
to  spend  $500,000  per  year  to  purchase  private  land.  Free  entry  of 
160  acres  is  provided  for  each  settler,  with  preemption  claim  for 
$10.  No  mention  is  made  as  to  what  training  will  be  provided,  or 
whether  or  ifot  applicants  must  have  some  capital  in  order  to  secure 
loans. — ["  Work  and  Homes  for  our  Fighting  Men,"  Reclamation 
Service,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  the  Interior,  1919,  pp.  20,  21.] 
Land  Settlement  for  Returned  Soldiers. 

The  soldiers'  settlement  board,  which  comes  under  the  jurisdiction 
of  the  department  of  the  interior,  has  formulated  plans  for  land 
settlement  in  conjunction  with  the  department  of  agriculture  and 
the  department  of  colonization  and  immigration  and  with  the 
agencies  working  under  the  provincial  governments.  Arrangements 
have  been  made  that  the  soldiers  should  have  priority  of  entry  on 
free  Government  lands  to  the  extent  of  320  acres,  and  that,  subject 
to  the  approval  of  the  settlement  board,  they  should  be  granted  an 
advance  of  $2,500  at  a  low  rate  of  interest  to  buy  stock,  implements, 
and  erect  buildings.  Investigation  has  revealed  the  fact  that  the 
Government  land  now  available  is  either  of  poor  quality  or  lies  at  a 
considerable  distance  from  railways  and  other  facilities,  such  as 
schools.  There  are  in  Western  Canada  between  20,000,000  and 
30,000,000  acres  of  excellent  land  adjacent  to  railways  in  the  hands 
of  land  corporations  and  private  speculators. — [The  Survey,  New 
York,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  4,  1919,  pp.  441,  442.] 

Commercial  Propaganda  by  Film. 

Realizing  the  value  of  moving  pictures  as  a  publicity  medium  for 
illustrating  the  natural  resources  of  the  Dominion  and  the  national 
value  of  industrial  development,  the  Canadian  Government  and  the 
industrial  reconstruction  association  are  undertaking  a  comprehen- 
sive scheme  of  moving-picture  propaganda.  The  labor  body  is  issu- 
ing an  initial  one-half  dozen  pictures  to  be  followed  by  others  as 
the  activities  of  the  association  develop.  Pictures  for  the  woolen 
industry  will  show  flocks  and  grazing  lands  in  Western  Canada  and 
will  trace  various  processes  of  manufacture  to  the  finished  wool  and 
knitted  products.  Other  similar  pictures  will  relate  to  the  pulp  and 
paper  industry,  grain  and  milling,  the  iron  and  steel  industry,  the 
packing  industry,  and  agricultural  implements. — [British  Board  of 
Trade  Journal,  Jan.  23,  1919,  p.  100.] 
New  Labor  Bureaus. 

The  Province  of  Quebec  wdll  establish  immediately  three  labor 
bureaus.    Through  these  offices  civilian  labor  wdll  be  handled  and  re- 


CANADA.  25 

turned  soldiers  will  be  taken  care  of  and  helped  to  secure  civil  occu- 
pations. These  bureaus  will  not  complete  the  operating  organiza- 
tion but  every  postmaster  in  the  Province  will  be  a  representative 
and  will  be  supplied  with  forms  so  that  in  the  more  remote  localities 
service  may  be  obtained  by  those  wishing  work.  On  the  staff  of  each 
bureau  will  be  a  returned  soldier  whose  duties  will  consist  in  meet- 
ing all  returned  soldiers  applying  for  positions  and  giving  them  what 
help  is  needed  in  order  that  they  may  settle  down  to  civil  life. — 
[Christian  Science  Monitor,  Boston,  Mass.,  Jan.  24:,  1919.] 

Foreign  Branches  of  the  Royal  Bank  of  Canada. 

Proposals  of  the  Royal  Bank  of  Canada  for  the  establishment  of 
foreign  branches  in  some  of  the  chief  cities  of  South  America  and 
elsewhere  are  being  discussed.  Already  this  institution  is  repre- 
sented in  Cuba  and  other  countries  of  the  Caribbean,  and  it  now 
plans  to  extend  the  sphere  of  its  hifluence  by  opening  branches  at 
Rio  de  Janeiro,  Brazil;  Buenos  Aires,  Argentina;  and  Montevideo, 
Uruguay.  A  branch  at  Paris,  France,  will  also  be  started,  according 
to  reliable  local  report. — [Report  of  U.  S.  consul  at  Quebec,  Jan. 
13, 1919,  Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Jan.  29, 1919.] 

Office  of  Labor,  Research,  and  Employment  Service. 

In  view  of  the  labor  conditions  in  Canada  incident  to  the  ending  of 
the  w\ar  and  the  consequent  necessity  for  developing  and  standardiz- 
ing the  provincial  employment  offices,  so  as  to  work  out  the  unemploy- 
ment problem  with  the  least  possible  friction  and  inconvenience  to 
employers  and  workers,  an  order-in-council  passed  December  16, 
191 S,  established  under  the  minister  of  labor  an  office  known  as  the 
director  of  labor,  research,  and  employment  service.  The  main  duties 
of  the  new  office  will  be  to  study  and  report  on  unemployment; 
ways  and  means  of  lessening  unemployment;  on  unemployment 
conditions,  including  wages  and  hours,  industrial  accidents  and  dis- 
eares;  and  on  ways  and  means  of  improving  conditions  of  employ- 
ment.— [Monthly  Labor  Review,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor,  February, 
1919,  p.  136.] 

Railway  Adjustment  Board. 

By  an  arrangement  with  the  Canadian  War  Board  and  representa- 
tives of  the  six  railroad  brotherhoods  a  board  known  as  the  Canada 
I^oard  of  Adjustment,  No.  1,  w^as  established  to  handle  all  contro- 
versies growing  out  of  the  interpretation  and  applications  of  the 
provisions  of  wage  schedules  or  agreements,  which  are  not  promptly 
adjusted  by  the  officers  and  employees  of  any  of  the  railroads  operated 
by  the  Government. — [Monthly  Labor  Review,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor, 
January,  1919,  pp.  165,  166.] 


26  FOREIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

Organization  for  Soldiers'  Civil  Beestablishment. 

The  fitting  back  of  veterans  into  civil  life  is  intrusted  to  a  separate 
Government  department  of  soldiers'  civil  reestablishment,  with  a 
representative  in  the  cabinet.  To  this  department  are  attached  the 
invalid-soldiers  commission  and  the  pension  board.  This  department 
centers  in  one  civilian  organization  the  service  of  picking  the  man 
up  after  discharge  from  the  army,  looking  after  his  disabilities, 
giving  him  his  industrial  reeducation,  and  endeavoring  to  locate  him 
in  a  position  where  his  capabilities  will  be  best  suited  to  the  trade 
or  profession  he  wishes  to  enter.  The  work  of  the  department,  apart 
from  that  of  the  pension  commission,  which  is  a  self-contained 
branch  of  the  department,  is  divided  into  five  branches  as  follows : 
Medical  service,  commandants'  branch,  demobilization  branch,  voca- 
tional branch,  and  directors'  branch. — [American  Review  of  Reviews, 
New  York,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  1,  1919,  p.  177.] 

Model  Houses  for  Industrial  Workers  under  the  War-Measure  Act. 

A  fund  of  $25,000,000  has  been  created  by  the  Dominion  Govern- 
ment and  will  be  available  by  way  of  loans  to  the  several  provincial 
governments  in  connection  with  the  carrying  out  of  the  program  for 
the  construction  of  model  houses  for  industrial  workers  through 
municipalities  or  otherwise. 

The  Dominion  Government  has  fixed  a  low  rate  of  interest  of  5 
per  cent  and  will  accept  bonds,  debentures,  and  other  forms  of  secur- 
ity from  any  of  the  provincial  governments  for  loans  made  to  it. — 
I U.  S.  consul  at  Calgary,  Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Coi^i- 
merce,  Feb.  4,  1919,  p.  551.] 

Production  for  the  Rebuilding  of  Europe. 

The  Canadian  Manufacturers'  Association  is  calling  upon  Cana- 
dian manufacturers  to  organize  into  trade  groups  so  as  to  be  ready 
to  compete  for  a  share  of  the  work  of  rebuilding  Europe.  They  point 
out  that  manufacturers  must  be  prepared  to  turn  out  standardized 
products  in  quantity.  They  have  issued  a  condensed  list  of  materials 
needed  immediately  in  Belgium  which  includes  copper,  brass,  con- 
tractors' equipment,  transportation  material  for  railroads,  dredging 
equipment,  and  agricultural  machinery. — [Iron  Age,  New  York, 
N.  Y.,  Feb.  6,  1919.] 

Demobilization. 

The  Government  at  Ottawa  had  worked  out  plans  for  bringing  the 
men  home  which  involved  a  careful  process  of  selection  by  which 
men  would  be  brought  home  according  to  their  occupation  and  the 
demand  there  would  be  for  the  labor  and  skill  which  each  soldier  had 
at  his  command.  When  the  men  in  the  army  heard  of  it  they  objected, 
as  they  wanted  to  go  home  by  units  so  that  each  battalion  when  it 


CANADA.  27 

detrained  at  its  destination  could  form  up  and  parade  with  its  colors 
flying  and  bands  playing.  The  soldiers'  protests  have  been  heeded 
and  the  army  will  come  home  by  units. — [Record,  Philadelphia,  Pa.. 
Feb.  16,  1919.] 

Expenditures  to  Provide  Employment. 

In  an  address  to  the  members  of  the  Engineering  Institute  of  Can- 
ada, the  minister  of  public  works  stated  that  it  is  the  duty  of  the 
Government  to  expend  the  public  money  sq  as  to  provide  employment 
for  the  people  whether  the  expenditures  are  politically  sound  or  not, 
that  for  the  next  year  money  will  be  spent  where  it  will  do  the  most 
good  in  the  prevention  of  unemployment,  and  that  unemployment  is 
always  most  acute  in  the  larger  centers  of  population.  He  added  that 
the  Government  intended  spending  large  sums  of  money  on  the  con- 
struction of  highways. — [Christian  Science  Monitor,  Boston,  Mass., 
Feb.  22,  1919.] 

Dissemination  of  Trade  Information. 

The  Canadian  Trade  Commission  receive  a  great  deal  of  informa- 
tion pertaining  to  business  which  may  be  obtained  in  Europe.  Much 
of  this  business  is  of  an  urgent  character,  and,  in  order  that  informa- 
tion relating  thereto  may  be  made  immediately  available  to  all  con- 
cerned, the  commission  has  asked  manufacturers  to  organize  into 
groups  through  which  any  information  received  by  the  commission 
may  be  transmitted. — [The  Canadian  Official  Record,  Mar.  4,  1919. 
p.  4.] 
Plans  for  Unemployed. 

The  specific  steps  the  Canadian  Government  is  taking  to  solve  the 
unemployment  problem  may  be  summarized  as  follows: 

1.  Twenty-five  million  dollars  have  been  set  aside  for  housebuild- 
ing. This  is  in  the  form  of  a  loan  allocated  through  provincial  gov- 
ernments to  the  municipalities  on  which  devolve  the  operation  of  the 
scheme. 

2.  Veterans  are  encc.i raged  to  go  farming,  and  Government  liter- 
ature describes  this  as  ''the  most  extensive  settlement  scheme  ever 
evolved."  Under  it  returned  men  may  obtain  land,  funds,  seed,  equip- 
ment, and  instruction.  The  essential  part  of  this  project  is  a  system 
of  loans  under  which  a  veteran  may  secure  capital  up  to  $7,500,  with 
25  years  to  repay  it. 

3.  All  public  works  are  to  be  immediately  resumed. 

4.  There  will  be  construction  and  expansion  on  both  Government 
and  privately  owned  railways.  One  railway,  it  is  said,  will  require 
120,000  men  this  season. 

5.  Shipbuilding  construction  will  be  continued,  providing  Cana- 
dian yards  can  compete  in  cost  with  British  yards. 


28  FOKEIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

6.  Public  highways  on  ambitious  lines  are  to  be  constructed  under 
a    system   of   cooperation    with    provincial    governments. — [World. 
New  York,  N.  Y.,  Mar.  9,  1919.] 
Price  Reductions  to  Soldier  Land  Settlers. 

The  chairman  of  the  soldier-settlement  board  has  announced  that 
soldiers  who  participate  in  the  benefits  of  the  land-settlement  pro- 
visions will  be  given  considerable  reductions  in  price  on  the  purchase 
of  agricultural  implements,  live  stock,  and  harness.  Very  favorable 
arrangements  have  been  made  with  manufacturers  of  implements 
and  harness,  by  which  soldiers  will  be  given  a  wide  range  of  choice 
of  first-class  implements  at  prices  substantially  below  those  quoted  to 
civilians.  Twelve  hundred  retail  lumber  merchants  will  cooperate 
with  the  soldier-settlement  board  by  giving  soldiers  who  go  on  the 
land  wholesale  prices  for  lumber  required  for  permanent  improve- 
ments, plus  the  bare  cost  of  unloading,  handling,  and  other  charges. — 
[The  Canadian  Official  Record,  Mar.  18, 1919,  p.  3.] 

Demobilization. 

Canada  is  demobilizing  her  fighting  corps,  including  the  four 
divisions  at  the  front,  by  sending  them  home  as  units,  so  that 
Canadian  committees  are  able  to  give  a  welcome  to  their  home  bat- 
talions. Through  a  system  of  exchanges  each  battalion  has  been  re- 
constituted so  as  to  consist  of  men  from  one  given  area.  The  rest  of 
the  army  is  to  be  demobilized  on  the  "  standard- draft  "  plan. 

Canada  has  been  divided  into  22  dispersal  areas,  the  principal  city 
in  each  area  being  the  dispersal  station.  Men  who  have  signified 
their  intention  of  going  to  the  same  dispersal  area  are  assembled  in 
concentration  camps  in  England  in  drafts  of  500.  Each  soldier 
chooses  the  area  to  which  he  wishes  to  go.  In  making  up  the  drafts 
long-service  men  receive  preference  over  those  who  have  served  a 
shorter  time,  and  married  men  have  priority  over  single  men.  The 
men  receive  their  medical  examination  before  leaving  England,  so 
that  all  delay  in  Canada  over  this  detail  is  avoided.  Questionnaire 
cards,  asking  among  other  things  for  the  soldier's  previous  occupa- 
tion, the  occupation  which  he  now  prefers,  and  the  locality  in  which 
he  intends  to  settle  are  distributed  to  the  men  overseas.  These  cards, 
after  being  filled  out,  are  sent  to  Canada  for  the  guidance  of  officials. 

On  arrival  at  the  dispersal  station  men  who  have  been  sick  en 
route  are  immediately  received  by  the  district  depot  for  medical 
treatment  and  receive  pay  as  part  of  that  unit.  All  other  men  fall 
in  alphabetically  and  are  paraded  to  a  military  depot,  where,  under 
one  roof,  are  arranged  the  offices  of  the  ordnance  officer,  the  soldiers^ 
reestablishment  disposal  staif,  the  paymaster,  the  officer  command- 
ing the  dispersal  station,  and  the  railway  agent.  At  the  ordnance 
office  each  man  turns  in  his  equipment,  except  his  steel  helmet  and 


CANADA.  29 

clothing,  which  he. is  allowed  to  keep.  A  representative  of  the  sol- 
diers' civil  reestablishment  department  gives  him  such  information 
and  advice  as  he  may  require  and  a  card  of  introduction  to  the 
nearest  branch  of  the  provincial  returned  soldiers'  commission.  To 
the  head  office  of  the  latter  a  record  is  sent  of  all  men  interviewed 
by  this  representative.  The  paymaster  issues  the  man  a  check  cov- 
ering his  back  pay,  clothing  allowance  of  $35,  and  first  month's  war 
service  gratuity.  Finally  the  officer  commanding  gives  each  man  his 
discharge  certificate  and  passes  him  on  to  the  railway  agent  from 
whom  he  receives  a  free  ticket  to  his  home  town.  The  military  au- 
thorities supply  adequate  quarters  and  rations  for  the  men  until  train 
time  and  for  those  who  wish  to  stay  overnight. 

In  order  to  secure  employment  for  discharged  soldiers,  employ- 
ment offices  are  established  in  all  the  urban  centers,  and  when  neces- 
sary in  smaller  places.  In  each  Province  the  local  offices  are  linked 
together  by  a  provincial  clearing  house  in  the  capital  city,  which 
furnishes  information  as  to  labor  needs  and  opportunities  in  every 
locality.  Also  in  every  Province  there  are  returned  soldiers'  commis- 
sions to  keep  former  soldiers  in  touch  with  the  nearest  employment 
offices  and  to  safeguard  their  interests. 

Regarding  the  wounded  men,  there  are  32.000  hospital  cases  in 
England  and  10,000  in  France.  While  these  men  are  receiving  the 
best  of  care,  just  as  soon  as  they  are  fit  to  move  they  are  brought 
home  on  hospital  ships  in  care  of  the  Canadian  Army  medical  corps. 
On  arriving  at  the  Atlantic  ports  they  are  taken  on  hospital  trains 
to  the  various  military  hospitals  and  are  kept  in  charge  of  the  mili- 
tary authorities  until  certified  by  a  board,  of  medical  officers  as  either 
cured  or  in  such  a  condition  as  to  require  prolonged  or  permanent 
institutional  care.  In  the  latter  case  they  are  taken  on  the  pay  rolls 
of  the  medical  service  branch  of  the  department  of  soldiers'  civil 
reestablishment  and  placed  in  suitable  hospitals.  Soldiers  so  inca- 
pacitated through  service  that  they  can  not  resume  their  former 
occupations  are  trained  by  the  Government  for  new  activities. 
While  undergoing  training  a  single  man  receives  $50  a  month,  a 
married  man  $38  a  month  for  his  wife.  If  he  has  a  wife  and  child 
the  allowance  for  them  is  $42.  Where  there  are  more  children,  larger 
allowances  are  granted,  the  maximum  being  $55. — [Literary  Digest, 
New  York,  N.  Y.,  Mar.  22,  1919,  pp.  22,  23;  49-56.] 

Housing. 

The  city  of  Toronto  has  appointed  a  permanent  housing  commis- 
sion whose  procedure  will  be  as  follows : 

1.  Houses  will  be  built  to  sell;  not  to  rent. 

2.  The  commission  itself  will  not  build  the  houses,  but  an  incor- 
porated company  will  be  formed. 


80  FOREIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

*3.  About  300  houses  will  be  built;  not  all  in  one  place,  but  in  dif- 
ferent parts  of  the  city,  so  that  people  of  every  section  will  have  a 
chance  to  buy.  Houses  will  probably  be  of  the  semidetached  type, 
with  a  25-foot  lot  for  each;  the  cost  to  the  buyer  will  be  $3,000;  and 
the  exterior  of  the  houses  will  differ  in  appearance. 

The  reason  why  homes  will  be  built  for  sale  only  was  explained 
by  one  of  the  members  of  the  commission  by  the  statement  that  "  the 
man  who  buys  a  home  is  more  valuable  to  the  city  than  the  man  who 
rents." — [Commerce  Eeports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Mar.  22, 
1919,  p.  1428.] 

Creation  of  Department  of  Industry. 

On  March  28  the  British  Columbia  legislature  approved  a  bill 
providing  for  the  creation  of  a  department  of  industry,  for  the 
administration  of  which  the  provincial  government  intends  to  set 
aside  $2,000,000  to  be  raised  by  a  domestic  loan.  This  action  is  to 
some  extent  the  result  of  representations  made  by  returned  soldiers 
to  the  effect  that  sufficient  employment  was  not  being  provided,  and 
that  the  Government  should  adopt  stronger  measures.  The  work  of 
the  department  of  industry  will  be  a  wide  one,  providing,  as  it  does, 
for  industrial  research;  to  carry  out  an  economic  survey  of  natural 
resources  and  furnish  advice  as  to  the  best  methods  of  utilizing  the 
same;  to  coordinate  various  industries,  bringing  together  producer, 
manufacturer,  and  purchaser;  to  publish  technical,  scientific,  and 
statistical  information  and  encourage  technical  and  industrial  study ; 
to  report  on  the  establishment  of  industries  in  British  Columbia 
where  it  appears  such  can  be  profitably  carried  on;  to  aid  by  loan, 
guaranty,  or  guaranty  of  securities  on  approved  plans,  any  enter- 
prise calculated  to  encourage  the  economic  and  commercial  manu- 
facture of  the  natural  resources  or  products  of  the  Province;  and 
to  deal  with  representative  bodies  of  returned  soldiers  concerning 
employment  through  the  establishment  of  new  industries.  An 
advisory  council,  consisting  of  not  more  than  seven  members,  who 
will  serve  Avithout  pay,  representative  of  the  financial,  commercial, 
industrial,  manufacturing,  and  labor  interests,  will  assist  the  min- 
ister of  industry  in  this  work. — [Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of 
Commerce,  Apr.  17,  1919,  p.  379.] 

CHILE. 

Extension  of  Irrigation. 

Plans  have  been  laid  before  Congress  for  the  construction  of  sec- 
ondary canals  for  feeding  the  large  Laja  Canal  now  nearing  com- 
pletion. It  is  also  intended  to  ask  the  Government  to  extend  the 
irrigation  law  so  as  to  allow  for  these  branches  being  built  on  the 
same  lines  as  the  large  canal.  This  latter  will  be  finished  next  spring, 
but  will  be  of  little  use  without  these  secondary  canals.     Therefore 


CHINA.  31 

it  ii=i  very  urgent  that  imniodiate  action  should  be  taken.  This  net- 
work of  canals  would  cover  about  833  kilometers  and  cost  $1,657,256. — 
I  Morcurio.  Dec.  4,  1918.] 

CHINA. 

■Foreign  Trade,  Monopolization  of. 

It  is  reported  that  a  central  office  for  foreign  trade  has  been  estab- 
lished which  will  monopolize  the  entire  import  and  export  trade  of 
(^hina.  The  venture  has  been  launched  by  the  Japanese  financial 
agent  in  China,  and  the  requisite  capital  is  said  to  have  come  from 
Japan,  only  40  per  cent  of  the  shares  being  in  Chinese  hands. — 
[  Deutscher  Aussenhandel,  Sept.  25.  1918.] 

Shipping. 

The  Chinese  Government  is  reported  as  considering  favorably  a 
joint  proposal  made  by  British  and  Japanese  capitalists  for  the 
development  of  Chinese  shipping.  Shanghai  is  said  to  be  develop- 
ing into  an  important  shipbuilding  center.  The  Wangpoo  con- 
servancy board,  the  body  that  controls  the  port  of  Shanghai,  plans 
an  expenditure  of  $100,000,000  during  the  next  two  decades  in  mak- 
ing the  harbor  available  for  largest  ocean-going  steamships. — [Engi- 
neering News-Record,  Nov.  2;  Journal  of  Commerce,  New  York, 
N.  Y.,  Nov.  8, 1918. 

The  American  Legation  has  lodged  a  protest  with  the  Chinese 
Government  against  the  sanctioning  of  an  export  and  import 
monopoly  by  a  Chinese  limited  liabilitj^  company. — [Tribune,  New 
York,  K  Y.,  Dec.  30,  1918.] 

New  Alphabet. 

It  is  predicted  that  the  change  in  alphabet  recently  announced, 
showing  a  shift  in  the  political  thought  of  the  Empire,  will  have  a 
marked  effect  on  the  future  of  the  new  Republic  through  gi-eatly 
facilitating  the  education  of  the  nine-tenths  of  the  population  now 
illiterate.— [Times,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  13,  1919.] 

Conciliation  of  Local  Factions. 

The  Chinese  President  has  proceeded  so  far  in  his  efforts  at  con- 
ciliation between  the  northern  and  southern  factions  of  the  Republic 
that  the  solution  of  the  difficulties  dividing  the  country  seems  now  in 
sight. — [Christian  Science  Monitor,  Boston,  Mass.,  Feb.  8,  1919.] 

Disclosure  of  Secret  Treaties. 

The  conciliation  of  local  factions  has  been  gi^eatly  aided  by  official 
instructions  sent  the  Chinese  delegation  in  Paris  to  disclose  the  secret 
agreements  with  Japan. — [Tribune,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  18, 1919.] 


32  FOREIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

CZECHO-SLOVAKIA.     . 

[Including  Bohemia.] 
Economic  Prospects. 

From  an  economic  standpoint  the  Czecho-Slovak  is  the  most  pros- 
perous of  all  the  national  States  in  what  was  formerly  the  Dual 
Monarchy.  Its  wealth  in  natural  products  of  every  sort  proves  this 
conclusively.  While  the  output  of  coal  is  from  35  to  40  per  cent  below 
the  peace  figures,  none  is  being  exported  and  consequently  there  is 
enough  to  work  the  railways  and  important  undertakings.  The  sugar 
factories  are  able  to  handle  all  beets  harvested,  and  are  figuring  on 
having  a  large  surplus  of  sugar  for  export.  This  with  a  number  of 
other  products  is  intended  to  procure  an  equivalent  value  of  foodstuffs 
and  raw  materials,  especially,  the  latter  which  are  greatly  needed. 
The  harvest  is  sufficient  to  feed  the  population  for  several  months 
and  the  prices  of  foodstuffs  have  fallen.  Production  is  not  normal, 
however,  except  in  the  foodstuffs  industry.  Textile  and  other  indus- 
tries are  being  held  back  on  account  of  inability  to  secure  foreign  raw 
materials.  The  banks  foresee  a  great  business  boom  coming  and  most 
of  them  have  increased  their  capital,  although  for  the  time  being 
they  have  no  use  for  it. — [Oesterreichischer  Volkswirt,  Jan.  11, 
1919.] 

Agreement  with  Germany. 

A  provisional  commercial  agreement  has  been  made  between  Ger- 
many and  Czecho- Slovakia  whereby  Germany  agrees  to  deliver  to  the 
new  Republic  certain  important  commodities  in  return  for  others 
needed  in  Germany.  In  respect  to  the  traffic  on  railways,  trucks,  and 
coaches  the  two  Governments  agree  that  until  further  notice  this 
traffic  shall  be  equal  in  both  directions,  the  details  remaining  to  be 
settled.  Both  Governments  are  prepared  to  release  ships  of  the  other 
party  line  and  their  territory  together  with  the  cargo  of  such  ships. 
They  agree  that  in  the  interest  of  an  early  resumption  of  railway 
traffic  the  detailed  regulations  shall  be  settled  without  delay  by  direct 
agreement.  The  two  Governments  will  place  no  obstacles  in  the 
way  of  the  unhindered  passage  of  diplomatic  couriers  and  their  lug- 
gage.—[British  Board  of  Trade  Journal,  Jan.  16,  1919,  p.  93.] 

Oversubscription  to  Liberty  Loan. 

The  Bohemian  Government  called  for  a  loan  of  500,000,000  crowns. 
The  amount  subscribed  was  1,948,431,100  crowns  by  191,410  sub- 
scribers. The  loan  bears  interest  at  4  per  cent  and  was  issued  at 
par. — [Supplement  to  Ceskoslovenska  Samostatinost,  Dec.  11  and  25, 
1918;  Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Jan.  28,  1919, 
p.  417.] 


DENMARK.  33 

Resumption  of  Trade  by  the  United  States. 

In  accordance  with  the  recognition  by  the  United  States  State  De- 
partment of  the  Czecho-Slovakia  Council  as  an  independent  Govern- 
ment, and  in  agreement  with  other  associated  Governments,  the 
United  States  War  Trade  Board  has  announced  the  reestablishment 
of  trade  relations  with  Czecho-Slovakia.  Further  announcement 
will  define  the  exact  limits  of  this  territory,  but  in  a  general  way 
the  portion  now  open  to  trade  is  the  area  which  constituted  the 
Provinces  of  Bohemia  and  Moravia,  as  they  existed  on  August  1, 
1914. — [Conmierce  Eeports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Feb.  14,  1919, 
p.  721.] 

DEIOIARK. 

Trade  Education  for  the  XTnemployed. 

The  ministry  of  the  interior  has  appointed  subcommittees  to  ar- 
range trade  lessons  for  the  unemployed.  This  will  afford  an  oppor- 
tunity to  equip  those  out  of  work  for  other  trades  or  to  educate  them 
so  that  the  forced  unemployment  may  be  used  to  the  best  possible 
advantage.  One  couise  has  been  started  for  unemployed  woman 
servants.  A  course  on  automobile  questions  is  to  be  started  for 
chauffeurs  and  for  laborers  on  motors.  Also  courses  on  staining  and 
polishing  will  be  established  for  cabinetmakers,  and  courses  on  ac- 
counting, leveling,  iron  concrete,  understanding  of  drawings,  etc.,  for 
laborers.  It  is  planned  to  get  the  cooperation  of  the  different  trades 
in  this  movement. — [Monthly  Labor  Review,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor, 
January,  1919,  p.  149.] 

Shipping  Activities. 

With  the  prospect  of  peace  at  an  early  date  and  the  resumption 
of  normal  trade  routes,  the  Copenhagen  free  port  expects  to  play  an 
important  part  in  Scandinavian  and  Baltic  trade.  Considerable  work 
has  been  done  toward  enlarging  the  area,  dockage,  and  warehouse 
facilities  of  the  port  during  the  war. — [Conmierce  Reports,  U.  S. 
Dept.  of  Commerce,  Mar.  22, 1919,  p.  1427.] 

Eight-hour  Day  for  State  Employees. 

The  Government  has  acceded  to  the  demand  for  an  eight-hour  day 
for  all  State  employees.  This  will  cost  the  State  over  $2,000,000  a 
year,  as  the  new  arrangement  also  allows  one  day  off  every  week, 
while  the  present  one  gives  them  only  one  every  two  weeks.  The  Gov- 
ernment, however,  has  refused  to  grant  the  extra  war  allowances 
which  were  asked  for. — [Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Com- 
merce, Mar.  31,  1919,  p.  1612.] 
115488—19 ^3 


34  FOEEIGN  KEADJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

EUROPEAN   COUNTRIES. 

Aerial  Postal  Service. 

Austria  has  had  since  April  an  aerial  postal  line  from  Vienna  to 
Lfemberg ;  Hungary  has  instituted  one  between  Budapest  and  Odessa, 
and  Brest-Litovsk  and  Kiev;  Denmark,  between  Copenhagen  and 
Skagen,  for  mails  and  passengers;  and  Italy,  between  Rome  and 
Turin,  and  between  the  mainland  and  Sardinia.  A  service  between 
Paris,  Brussels,  and  London  is  contemplated  after  the  war.  Lines 
are  projected,  but  not  yet  working,  between  Paris  and  St.  Nazaire; 
Paris,  Marseilles,  and  Nice ;  Stockholm  and  Gulf  of  Finland ;  Petro- 
grad  and  Moscow ;  Odessa  and  Constantinople ;  Stavenger  and  Aber- 
deen. In  Holland  postal  air  communication  is  contemplated  be- 
tween Amsterdam  and  Groningen ;  and  Rotterdam  and  Groningen. — 
[Deutscher  Aussenhandel,  Aug.  15,  1918.] 

Agricultural  Conditions  in  England,  France,  and  Italy. 

A  summary  has  been  issued  of  the  report  of  the  commission  sent 
abroad  last  August  by  the  United  States  Department  of  Agriculture 
to  study  agricultural  conditions  in  England,  France,  and  Italy.  The 
report,  which  was  prepared  before  the  armistice  was  signed,  states 
that  the  countries  at  war  will  become  increased  consumers  of  agri- 
cultural products  when  governmental  restrictions  are  removed. 
Among  other  recommendations,  the  commission  suggests  that  an  in- 
ternational agricultural  council  be  formed  to  consider  the  situation 
and  needs  of  the  various  nations  with  regard  to  agricultural  produc- 
tion.—[Official  U.  S.  Bulletin,  Jan.  7,  1919,  p.  1.] 

FINLAND. 

A  N^ational  Fair  in  1919. 

At  the  suggestion  of  the  commission  of  commerce  and  industry, 
the  National  Industrial  League  of  Finland  has  decided  to  organize  a 
national  fair  during  the  summer  of  1919,  the  purpose  of  which  will 
be  to  encourage  all  phases  of  agricultural,  commercial,  industrial, 
social,  and  educational  life  of  Finland,  and  to  strengthen  and  ameli- 
orate the  industrial  and  national  developments  and  changes  brought 
about  by  the  war. — [Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce, 
Dec.  21,  1918,  p.  1108.] 

FINLAND  AND   SWEDEN. 

Commercial  Agreement. 

An  agreement  has  been  entered  into  between  representatives  of 
the  Finnish  and  Swedish  Governments  whereby  these  Governments 
will  aid  each  other  by  exporting  quantities  of  goods,  the  exportation 
of  which  will  not  in  any  way  injure  the  exporting  country ;  and  will 
also  facilitate  the  transit  of  goods  through  the  two  countries  in  a 


FBANCE.  35 

way  most  beneficial  to  both. — [Svensk  Export,  November,  1918 ;  Com- 
merce Keports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Jan.  3,  1919,  p.  17.] 

FRANCE. 

Economic  Needs  and  Resources,  Inquiries  into. 

The  ministry  of  commerce  announces  the  beginning  of  two  large 
economic  inquiries.  An  order  of  the  under  secretary  of  state  of  this 
department,  published  in  the  Journal  Officiel  of  June  10,  directs, 
simultaneously,  the  preparation  of  an  "  inventory  of  the  economic 
needs  and  resources  of  France  after  the  war,"  and  an  inquiry  con- 
cerning the  expediency  of  a  protective  tariff  law  (droit  protecteur) 
to  be  enacted  for  the  benefit  of  the  industries  which  claim  this  assist- 
ance from  the  State  and  which  demonstrate  its  justifiable  needs. — 
[Exportation  FrauQaise,  June  27,  1918.] 
Land  Settlements  for  ex-Soldiers  and  War  Victims,  Loans  for. 

An  act  of  April  9,  1918,  allows  military  pensioners  and  civil  vic- 
tims of  the  war  to  obtain  loans  from  the  credit  agricole  for  the  ac- 
quisition of  small  holdings  in  the  country.  The  loans  will  be  re- 
deemable in  25  years  and  granted  at  1  per  cent  interest.  The  guar- 
antee demanded  from  the  borrower  will  be  a  mortgage  on  the  prop* 
erty  and  a  life  insurance  effected  in  favor  of  the  lending  company. 
[Journal  Officiel,  July  21,  1918.] 

Electricity  as  a  Factor  in  Reconstruction. 

The  directors  and  representatives  of  the  large  central  power  sta- 
tions and  electric-lighting  plants  situated  in  the  invaded  regions 
have  banded  together  under  the  auspices  of  the  syndicate  profes- 
sionel  des  producteurs  et  distributeurs  d'energie  electrique,  and  are 
studying  the  problem  of  reconstructing  their  central  power  stations. — 
[Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Aug.  8,  1918,  p.  515.] 

Collective  Buying  in  Industrial  Reconstruction. 

The  French  manufacturers  in  rebuilding  the  destroyed  or  dam- 
aged factories  will  buy  their  materials,  not  individually,  but  collec- 
tively through  a  small  number  of  central  purchasing  agencies,  each 
agency  representing  a  group  of  French  manufacturers  engaged  in 
the  same  or  related  industries  and  assisted  by  the  credit  of  the  French 
Government. — [Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Aug. 
27,  1918,  p.  773.] 

New  Commercial  Highway. 

There  is  a  movement  in  France  which  aims  at  providing  Switzer- 
land and  the  Central  European  hinterland,  Bohemia,  and  other  na- 
tions, an  Atlantic  port  in  France,  rendering  them  economically  in- 
dependent of  Germany. — [Commerce  Reports,  IT.  S.  Dept.  of  Com- 
merce, Sept.  5,  1918,  p.  886.] 


36  FOREIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

Fiduciary  Societies. 

Among  the  more  practical  reforms  tending  toward  the  establish- 
ment in  France  of  new  postwar  methods  of  work  are  the  fiduciary 
societies  (societes  fiduciares)  to  act  as  intermediaries  between  the 
bankers  and  the  heads  of  industries  and  commercial  enterprises. 
Their  aim  is  to  study  by  means  of  close  investigation  the  position, 
prospects,  and  potentialities  of  any  given  business  establishments, 
in  order  to  determine  whether  these  warrant  the  extension  to  its 
promoters  of  such  credit  as  they  may  desire.  They  will  be  entirely 
free  from  Government  support. — [L'Economiste  Francaise,  Sept.  14, 
1918.] 

Division  of  the  Country  into  Economic  Regions. 

The  French  ministry  of  commerce  is  engaged  upon  the  task  of 
creating  economic  divisions  in  France,  in  order  to  insure  the  most 
effective  cooperation  of  French  chambers  of  commerce  in  solving  the 
after-the-war  economic  problems.  In  this  plan  the  existing  depart- 
mental boundaries  are  ignored,  the  country  being  divided  into  16 
•economic  regions. — [Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce, 
Sept.  30,  1918,  p.  1201;  British  Board  of  Trade  Journal,  Nov. 
7,  1918,  p.  583.] 

Collective  Trade-Mark. 

A  group  of  industrial  and  commercial  organizations  have  adopted 
the  collective  trade-mark  "  Unis-France,"  to  guarantee  the  French 
origin  of  certain  products. — [Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Com- 
merce, Oct.  2,  1918,  p.  24.] 

Aerial  Postal  Service. 

The  interministerial  commission  has  planned  and  elaborated  to  its 
smallest  details  the  most  complete  system  of  aerial  communication 
between  the  principal  towns  of  France,  which  is  ready  to  be  brought 
into  action  the  moment  circumstances  permit.  The  service  most 
carefully  worked  out  is  that  from  Paris  to  Nice,  calling  at  Dijon, 
Lyon,  and  Marseilles,  to  be  eventually  extended  to  Genoa  and 
Rome. — [L'Economiste  Francaise,  Oct.  26,  1918.] 

Disabled  Soldiers,  Reeducation  of. 

The  American  Red  Cross  in  Paris  has  recently  published  a  report 
on  the  reeducation  of  disabled  soldiers  in  France,  the  object  of  which 
is  to  show:  How  the  American  Red  Cross  can  help  in  reeducating 
the  disabled  in  France;  and  in  what  way  the  experience  thus  gained 
can  be  of  service  in  the  United  States  in  dealing  with  its  own  dis- 
abled men.  It  is  the  result  of  a  survey  made  of  the  work  actually 
done. — [Report  of  Miss  Grace  S.  Harper,  American  Red  Cross, 
Paris.] 


PRANCE.  37 

Industries  in  the  Invaded  Regions. 

A  special  commission  appointed  by  the  ministry  of  commerce  is 
investigating  the  condition  of  all  industrial  establishments  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Lille,  Roubaix,  and  Tourcoing,  with  a  view  to  ascer- 
taining which  of  these  can  be  reestablished  in  working  order  with 
the  briefest  delay,  and  organizing  their  supply  with  raw  textiles, 
thus  to  reduce  to  a  minimum  the  import  of  manufactured  goods. 

A  second  mission  appointed  by  the  minister  of  blockade  is  engaged 
m  ascertaining  details  as  to  the  needs  of  the  invaded  regions  in  ma- 
terials of  all  kinds,  such  as  coal,  leather-belts,  copper,  etc.,  and  also 
their  labor  requirements. 

'  The  two  bodies  are  working  in  conjunction.  Factories  are  classi- 
fied under  four  categories.  Forms  have  to  be  completed  showing 
their  prewar  and  their  present  situation,  in  order  to  establish  in  the 
shortest  possible  time  the  measures  necessary  for  the  progressive 
revival  of  the  textile  industries. — [Temps,  Nov.  12,  1918.] 

Heconstrnction  of  Iron  and  Steel  Industry. 

A  "  Societe  Cooperative  des  Mines  de  Fer  et  de  la  Siderurgie  des 
Regions  Sinistres  "  has  recently  been  created  in  France  for  the  pur- 
pose of  conducting  commercial  or  industrial  operations  necessary  for 
the  bringing  about  of  the  reconstruction  and  reorganization  of  the 
iron  mines  and  steel  works  of  the  invaded  regions. — [Commerce  Re- 
ports, U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Nov.  13,  1918,  p.  593.] 

War  Factories,  Conversion  to  Peace  Work. 

The  minister  of  armament  indicated  in  a  recent  statement  to  the 
army  commission  that  a  department  had  been  created  with  the 
special  function  of  settling  rapidly  all  questions  connected  with 
the  reorganization  of  war  factories.  Steps  are  being  taken  as  far 
as  possible  to  prevent  unemployment,  and  to  assure  the  French 
workmen  and  workwomen  priority  of  employment  over  foreigners 
and  prisoners.  The  manufacture  of  war  material  will  cease  progres- 
sively, taking  into  account  outstanding  military  requirements  and 
the  extent  of  the  available  labor. — [Echo  de  Paris,  Nov.  17,  1918.] 
Linking  up  Alsace-Lorraine  Railways. 

A  deputation  representing  the  eastern  railways  of  France  recently 
met  a  German  delegation,  who  came  from  Metz  to  Nancy  in  order 
to  arrange  details  with  a  view  to  the  connection  of  the  railways  of 
Alsace-Lorraine  with  the  French  system. — [Temps,  Nov.  17,  1918.] 
Transport  Conditions  Return  to  Normal. 

The  minister  of  public  works  had  issued  to  all  the  managing  bodies 
of  railways  a  circular  requesting  them  to  speed  up  traffic,  clear  their 
stations,  and  return  with  the  utmost  promptitude  to  a  normal  state 
of  affairs.    He  requests  all  railroad  companies  to  hasten  the  trans- 


38  FOREIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

port  of  manures,  seeds,  and  everything  subservient  to  food  pro- 
duction, wines,  and  coal,  especially  from  the  northern  mines. — [Nou- 
velliste  de  Lyon,  Nov.  19,  1918.] 
Employment  of  ex-Soldiers. 

A  new  law  providing  for  the  compulsory  reemployment  of  men 
in  the  posts  they  held  before  the  war  was  enacted  in  November,  1918. 
The  terms  of  the  law  are,  briefly : 

1.  Government  departments,  as  well  as  private  employers,  are  com- 
pelled to  reinstate  their  employees  who  have  been  serving  in  the 
army,  provided,  on  the  one  hand,  that  the  changes  in  economic  con- 
ditions caused  by  the  war  make  such  reemployment  possible;  and 
on  the  other  hand,  that  the  men  are  not  so  severely  disabled  as  to 
be  unfit  for  their  posts. 

2.  Men  who  were  engaged  under  contracts  for  a  definite  period 
must  be  taken  back  to  complete  the  terms  of  their  contracts.  All 
contracts  made  with  men  in  the  absence  of  those  who  have  been  called 
up  will  expire  automatically  as  soon  as  the  latter  are  reemployed. 

3.  Reinstated  men  will  be  eligible  for  any  promotion,  increase  in 
salary  or  wages,  or  for  any  bonus  provided  for  in  the  regulations  ex- 
isting before  the  war.  Where  owing  to  economic  conditions  or  to  a 
man's  disablement,  it  is  impossible  to  reinstate  him  in  his  former 
post,  a  similar  or  suitable  one  should  if  possible  be  given  to  him. 

4.  Failing  proof  by  the  employer  of  the  impossibility  of  rein- 
stating a  former  employee,  he  will  be  liable  to  damages  according  to 
the  labor  code.— [Journal  Officiel,  Nov.  22,  1918;  Matin,  Nov.  26, 
1918.] 

Labor  Reforms. 

The  French  workers  general  committee  in  their  program  advo- 
cate: Establishment  of  a  League  of  Nations;  no  economic  war  nor 
economic  protection;  no  reprisals,  only  reparation  for  destruction; 
and  general  disarmament.  They  urge  that  labor  be  represented  at 
the  Peace  Conference,  and  that  an  international  labor  congress  be 
established.  They  ask  for  restoration  of  freedom  of  speech ;  suppres- 
sion of  censorship ;  liberation  of  interned  aliens ;  various  trade-union 
rights  for  workmen  and  employees ;  an  eight-hour  day ;  and  compul- 
sory education  up  to  14  years  of  age.  Demobilization  and  economic 
reconstruction  measures  should  be  in  the  hands  of  a  national  economic 
council  on  which  labor  should  be  represented  directly.  They  recom- 
mend that  the  work  of  restoring  the  devastated  provinces  be  put  in 
the  hands  of  new  committees  on  which  producers  and  consumers 
should  be  represented,  and  that  measures  be  taken  to  make  profiteer- 
ing impossible  in  this  work.  Other  reforms  asked  for  in  this  pro- 
gram are:  State  control  over  all  branches  of  trade  and  industry 


FRANCE.  39 

essential  to  the  life  of  the  individual  or  the  nation ;  measures  to  com- 
bat the  various  social  evils;  the  right  of  any  workman,  whatever 
his  nationality,  to  work  wherever  he  can  find  it ;  the  extension  of  in- 
surance of  workers;  the  removal  of  octroi  and  customs  duties  from 
all  foodstuffs  and  fuel  in  order  to  reduce  the  present  high  prices; 
the  institution  of  a  national  service  to  supply  the  necessaries  of  life 
to  workers  at  cost ;  and  additional  taxes  on  war  profits  and  increased 
legacy  duties  to  pay  for  the  war. — [Populaire  de  Paris,  Nov.  26, 
1918.] 

Provision  for  UnemployTnent. 

The  General  Council  of  the  Seine  has  agreed  to  a  proposal  which 
aims  at  preventing  unemployment  subsequent  to  demobilization.  A 
tabulated  list  of  work  to  be  done  is  to  be  drawn  up  not  in  accordance 
with  the  urgency  of  the  work,  but  according  to  the  kind  of  work,  so 
that  the  greatest  number  of  men  may  be  given  employment  with  the 
least  possible  delay.  For  the  purpose  of  transforming  war  factories 
into  peace  factories  and  endeavoring  to  reestablish  the  economic  life 
of  the  country,  certain  credits  have  been  voted  to  the  various  minis- 
tries.—[Temps,  Nov.  22, 1918;  Journal  des  Debats,  Dec.  1, 1918.] 
Future  of  the  French  Air  Service. 

The  vice  president  of  the  French  Army  commission  makes  the  fol- 
lowing recommendations  with  the  view  of  insuring  the  orderly  de- 
mobilization of  the  air  service,  and  of  securing  the  highest  interests 
of  the  country : 

1.  To  define  the  importance  of  the  air  army  in  peace  time  and  to 
constitute  it  an  independent  force. 

2.  To  organize  immediately  aerial  routes  in  France  and  its  colonies, 
as  well  as  landing-places,  aerodromes,  etc. 

3.  To  enlist  specialists  in  this  service  and  to  guarantee  their  posi- 
tion. 

4.  To  arouse  competition  among  engineers  and  aeroplane  builders. 

5.  To  encourage  the  formation  of  aerial  transport  companies. — 
[Journal  des  Debats,  Dec.  1, 1918.] 

International  Labor  Legislation  Proposed. 

The  labor  committee  of  the  Chamber  of  Deputies  adopted  on  No- 
vember 29  a  report  on  clauses  relating  to  international  labor  legisla- 
tion to  be  inserted  in  the  Peace  Treaty.  A  firm  stand  is  made  against 
night  work  for  young  industrial  workers  and  a  workday  longer  than 
10  hours  for  women  and  youths  in  factories.  Such  questions  as  the 
minimum  industrial  age,  eight-hour  day,  industrial  insurance,  etc., 
are  to  be  submitted  to  an  international  labor  conference,  and  periodic 
international  labor  conferences  are  to  be  called. — [Post,  Washington, 
D.  C,  Dec.  2, 1918.] 


40  FOREIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

Public  Improvements. 

The  under  secretary  of  public  works  and  transportation,  calls  atten- 
tion to  a  proposed  railway  from  Bordeaux  to  Odessa,  and  the  much- 
talked-of  tunnel  under  the  English  Channel,  as  part  of  the  economic 
offensive  which  he  is  directing.  This  offensive  includes  railway, 
steamship,  and  canal  extensions. — [Courier-Herald,  Saginaw,  Mich., 
Dec.  3, 1918.] 

Commissariat  for  Liberated  Territories. 

By  decree  of  the  President  of  the  Republic,  a  general  commissariat 
for  the  reconstruction  of  the  liberated  territories  has  been  created  at 
the  ministry  of  blockade  and  of  the  liberated  regions.  It  will  deal 
with:  Relations  with  the  transportation  and  food  services,  so  as  to 
meet  the  needs  of  the  population ;  the  determination,  in  consultation 
with  the  army,  of  the  assistance  to  be  obtained  from  it ;  the  material 
reconstruction  of  the  liberated  territories ;  and  especially  the  rebuild- 
ing of  ruined  houses,  and  the  restoration  of  the  soil  to  a  fit  state  for 
cultivation.  The  general  commissioner  is  empowered  to  take  im- 
mediately, in  urgent  cases,  all  necessary  measures  to  meet  urgent 
needs.  He  will  make  immediate  use  of  all  local  administrations  and 
will  endeavor  to  obtain  the  collaboration  of  the  headquarters  of  the 
Allied  Armies.  The  services  of  prisoners  of  war  and  the  French 
prisoners  will  be  utilized.  Material  for  the  construction  of  provi- 
sional house  accommodations  will  be  sent  as  quickly  as  possible,  rail- 
ways will  be  repaired,  and  the  return  of  the  populations  will  be 
effected  with  the  provision  of  housing  and  the  food  supply. — [Journal 
des  Debats,  Dec.  4, 1918.] 
Repairs  to  Damaged  Railways,  Locks,  and  Bridges. 

The  minister  of  public  works  has  had  a  conference  with  the  repre- 
sentatives of  the  railway  systems  of  the  Nord  and  the  Est  with  regard 
to  repairs  of  the  lines.  The  work  will  be  carried  on  under  State 
control.  The  railway  companies  are  authorized  to  come  to  an  under- 
standing with  builders'  and  contractors'  organizations  with  the  view 
both  of  the  urgency  for  execution  of  certain  steps,  and  the  recom- 
mencement of  work.  The  minister  has  also  requested  that  the  repre- 
sentatives of  these  railway  systems  indicate  to  him  the  number  of 
workmen  necessary  for  these  repairs,  in  order  that  he  may  demand 
their  demobilization  and  their  dispatch  to  the  place  where  their 
presence  will  be  most  useful.  There  are  1,800  bridges  to  be  rebuilt, 
20  locks  to  be  reconstructed,  and  at  least  5,000  kilometers  of  rails  to 
be  repaired. — [Journal  des  Debats,  Dec.  4,  1918;  Le  Matin,  Dec. 
8, 1918.] 
Government  Aid  in  Trade  Reorganization. 

The  ministry  of  trade  intends  to  amalgamate  the  various  members 
of  each  branch  of  industry,  to  distribute  them  in  groups  and  to 


ERANCE.  41 

intrust  to  these  the  preparation  of  samples  as  well  as  information 
and  services  with  a  view  to  introducing  economies  and  increasing 
their  efficiency.  He  has  announced  that  it  is  intended  to  reorganize 
the  ministry  of  trade,  to  add  to  French  diplomative  representatives 
abroad,  Government  commercial  agents,  and  to  settle  as  many  French 
firms  in  foreign  countries  as  may  be  feasible. — [Weltwirtschafts- 
zeitung,  Dec.  6, 1918.] 

Organizations  of  Export  Credit  in  France. 

The  minister  of  trade  has  made  the  following  statement  with 
regard  to  the  establishment  of  the  new  French  export  bank  on  the 
occasion  of  its  renewal  of  the  privileges  of  the  Banque  de  France. 
In  addition  to  its  permanent  advances,  the  bank  is  to  make,  if  neces- 
sary, an  advance  of  50,000,000  francs  to  the  treasury  to  serve  as  the 
foundation  capital  of  a  French  export  bank  whose  organization  is 
to  be  intrusted  to  a  committee  of  15  members,  8  nominated  by  the 
Chambers  of  Commerce  of  Paris,  Lens,  Marseilles,  Bordeaux,  and 
Havre,  and  the  rest  by  decree  of  the  ministerial  council. — [Welt- 
wirtschaftszeitung,  Dec.  6,  1918.] 

American  Committee  for  Devastated  France. 

In  order  to  assist  in  reorganizing  remote  war-torn  regions,  the 
women  of  the  American  Committee  for  Devastated  France  have  in-' 
stituted  a  modernized  peddling  system  by  means  of  which  groceries 
and  household  necessities  are  distributed  by  autotrucks. — [Tribune, 
New  York,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  7,  1918.] 

Agricnlttiral  Land  Eeforms. 

A  law  has  been  enacted  which  has  for  its  object  a  redistribution 
of  disintegrated  rural  properties  so  as  to  produce  united  estates  on 
which  agricultural  operations  will  be  more  profitable.  It  provides 
that  exchanges  rendered  necessary  to  the  achievement  of  this  are  to 
be  conducted  by  barter.  The  object  is  to  give  to  each  proprietor 
an  area  of  land  relatively  equivalent  either  in  extent  or  quality  to 
the  ground  owned  by  him  within  boundaries  of  the  land  to  be  redis- 
tributed. Privileges,  the  mortgages,  and  other  actual  rights  upon 
the  real  estate  given  in  exchange  are  to  be  transferred  absolutely 
to  the  property  received  in  the  exchange.  All  claims  and  complaints 
will  be  heard  by  a  commission  appointed  under  the  law. — [L'Econo- 
miste  Francaise,  Dec.  7,  1918.] 

The  Conversion  of  War  Factories. 

The  central  committee  of  the  employers  union  of  vocational  syndi- 
cates has  called  the  attention  of  the  minister  of  reconstruction  to  the 
following  points  concerning  the  conversion  of  war  factories  to  the 
requirements  of  peace:  Conversion  can  only  be  harmless  as  it  is 
entirely  provisional ;  it  should  not  compete  with  normal  industry,  but 
should  assist  them  rather  to  increase  their  productive  power  during 


42  FOREIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

the  transitional  period ;  and  the  conversion  of  private  war  factories 
might  disturb  and  injure  existing  establishments  and  particularly 
those  of  the  liberated  regions  by  reason  of  state  favoritism  accorded 
to  such  converted  factories,  and  their  competition  in  the  manufacture 
of  articles  in  which  the  existing  establishments  have  long  special- 
ized.—[Temps,  Dec.  12,  1918.] 

Organization  for  Industrial  Reconstruction. 

The  Premier  of  France  organized  on  November  17,  1917,  under 
the  title  of  ministry  of  blockade  and  of  the  liberated  territories,  the 
following  four  departments : 

1.  A  department  to  take  charge  of  the  economic  life  in  the  liber- 
ated parts  of  France.    It  comprises  services  for — 

a.  Provisioning  of  population  through  the  local  administration. 

'b.  Reestablishment  of  local  authorities  and  schools. 

G.  Relief  work. 

d.  Responsibility  for  such  questions  as  the  assessment  of  dam- 
ages wrought  by  the  war  and  the  indemnities  to  which  the 
inhabitants  are  entitled. 

2.  A  department  to  take  care  of  the  housing  of  the  population. 

a.  Supplies  temporary  wooden  houses  where  homes,  churches, 
and  town  halls  are  completely  destroyed,  to  be  replaced 
later  by  more  substantial  structures. 

h.  Makes  temporary  repairs  where  houses  are  damaged  but  not 
destroyed. 

c.  Supplies  furniture  to  replace  that  taken  by  the  Germans. 

d.  Puts  soil  into  fit  condition  for  cultivation,  removing  shells, 

grenades,  barbed  wire,  etc.,  also  refilling  trenches  so  that 
farmers  may  proceed  with  their  work. 

3.  An  office  of  agricultural  reconstruction  to  restore  to  the  liberated 
region  all  its  prewar  agricultural  activity. 

a.  Replaces  cattle  destroyed  or  taken  away  and  farming  imple- 
ments destroyed. 
h.  Furnishes  plants  and  seeds. 

4.  An  office  of  industrial  reconstitution  comprising  a  central  com- 
mittee of  purchases  composed  of  manufacturers  from  the  liberated 
regions  who  are  desirous  of  restoring  to  the  devastated  territories  in 
the  shortest  possible  time  all  prewar  industrial  activities.  This  com- 
mittee is  subdivided  into  a  number  of  important  committees,  almost 
every  industry  being  represented,  such  as  the  spinning  and  weav- 
ing factories,  breweries,  coal-mining  industry,  electric  power,  etc. 
These  committees  are  to  submit  a  program  of  industrial  reconstruc- 
tion and  present  their  desideratum  to  the  minister  of  liberated  terri- 
tories through  the  office  of  industrial  reconstitution. — [Article  by 
Lieut.  Maurice  Boyer,  in  charge  of  reconstruction  for  the  French 
High  Commission  in  Washington;  Times,  Detroit,  Mich.,  Dec.  12, 
1918.] 


FRANCE.  43 

Societe  Mineranx  et  Metaux. 

At  the  suggestion  of  the  French  ministry  of  commerce,  the  societe 
mineraux  et  metaux,  having  as  its  aim  the  development  in  France  of 
mineral  and  metallurgical  industries,  has  been  organized  to  take  a 
leading  part  in  the  purchase  of  metals  in  the  United  States. — [Wall 
Street  Journal,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  18,  1918.] 
Cooperation  of  Employees  to  Solve  Food  Problem. 

A  report  recently  published  in  the  Bulletin  Economique  Francaise 
refers  to  restaurants  and  stores  maintained  by  cooperative  societies 
and  supported  by  employees  of  French  munitions  factories.  By 
means  of  these  societies  there  is  secured  a  methodical  organization 
and  distribution  of  foodstuffs,  thus  frustrating  the  profiteering  of 
local  tradesmen.  It  is  expected  that  many  of  these  organizations, 
called  into  existence  during  the  war,  will  continue  after  its  close. — 
[Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Dec.  20,  1918,  p. 
1097.] 
Keconstituting  Damaged  Industries,  Needs  for. 

The  United  States  commercial  attache,  at  Paris,  cabled  that  what 
France  needs  for  reconstituting  its  damaged  industries  in  the  north 
and  east  are:  Labor;  credit;  raw  materials  to  keep  French  industries 
going;  such  special  equipment  for  iron  and  coal  mines,  steel  works, 
textile  mills,  and  other  industrial  establishments  as  France  is  not 
in  position  to  make  in  sufficient  quantity  at  this  time;  and  ships. — 
[Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Dec.  23, 1918,  p.  1124] 

Organization  for  Industrial  Reconstruction. 

The  office  of  industrial  reconstitution  of  the  invaded  regions  of  the 
ministry  of  blockade  and  of  the  liberated  regions,  according  to  a 
decree  of  December  13,  1917,  deals  with  everything  relating  to  the 
reorganization  of  local  life  and  means  of  habitation,  the  assistance  to 
be  given  to  sufferers  in  the  reestablishment  of  destroyed  property, 
the  repair  of  war  ravages,  the  restoration  of  the  land,  and  industrial 
and  agricultural  reconstruction.  Its  function  is  to  lay  down  pro- 
grams of  purchases  and  to  supervise  and  control  their  execution. 

An  act  of  August  6,  1917,  sanctions  a  credit  of  250,000,000  francs 
and  charges  the  ministry  of  commerce  to  purchase  and  institute  the 
necessary  materials  for  reconstruction  purposes  through  the  office 
of  industrial  reconstitution.  It  provides  for  the  transfer  of  actual 
operations  by  agreement  to  a  third  party  responsible  to  that  office 
and  subject  to  the  audit  of  the  ministry  of  finance.  The  central  in- 
dustrial purchasing  office  for  the  invaded  regions  is  the  third  party 
concerned. 

The  central  association  for  the  resumption  of  industrial  activity 
in  the  invaded  regions  (association  central  pour  la  reprise  de  I'ac- 
tivite  industrielle  dans  les  regions  envahie)   comprises  a  group  of 


44  FOREIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

manufacturers  in  the  invaded  districts  with  the  object  of  "  pursuing 
by  every  suitable  means  the  reconstitution  of  plants  and  stocks  in 
industrial  enterprises  and  factories."  Being  prohibited  by  law  from 
undertaking  commercial  operations,  the  association  established  a 
central  industrial  purchasing  office  for  the  invaded  regions  (comp- 
toir  central  d'achats  industriels  pour  les  regions  envahies). 

The  central  industrial  purchasing  office  for  the  invaded  regions, 
established  by  the  central  association  for  the  resumption  of  indus- 
trial activities  in  the  invaded  regions,  is  a  limited  company  with  a 
capital  of  1,000,000  francs.  Its  functions  are  defined  by  act  of 
August  6,  1917,  and  by  agreement  entered  into  with  the  French 
Government  on  October  4,  1917.  The  duties  of  the  comptoir  central 
are  to  submit  data  for  purchasing  programs  to  the  industrial  office; 
to  find  out  and  discuss  purchases  and  supplies ;  to  place  contracts,  to 
supervise  their  execution ;  and  to  receive  and  store  the  material  and 
distribute  it  to  the  manufacturers  concerned.  Their  purchases  may 
be  made  either  upon  specific  requests  from  the  manufacturers  or  with 
the  object  of  constituting  stocks  for  distribution  when  required. 

Cessions  of  material,  which  are  subject  to  a  formal  undertaking 
on  the  part  of  the  recipient  only  to  use  the  material  for  reconstruc- 
tion purposes,  are  made  by  the  comptoir  central  on  behalf  of  the 
ministry  of  blockade  either  against  cash  payment  or  by  debiting 
their  value  to  potential  indemnities  of  war  damages. — [Journal  of 
Commerce,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  23,  1918.] 
Demobilized  Soldiers'  Bonus. 

In  addition  to  a  provision  for  soldiers'  families  during  periods  of 
unemployment,  sums  ranging  from  250  to  410  francs  are  being 
paid  soldiers  immediately  upon  demobilization. — [Post,  Washing- 
ton, D.  C,  Dec.  27,  1918.] 
Franco- American  Board  of  Commerce  and  Industry. 

The  Franco-American  Board  of  Commerce  and  Industry  was 
formed  December  26,  1918,  by  French  officials  and  commercial  rep- 
resentatives to  develop  American  markets  for  French  manufacturers. 
Headquarters  where  French  goods  will  be  exhibited  are  to  be  estab- 
lished in  New  York  and  branches  will  be  established  in  France. — 
[Sun;  Herald,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  27, 1918;  Wall  Street  Journal, 
Dec.  28, 1918.] 
Reconstruction  of  French  Eailway  Lines. 

A  bill  has  been  passed  for  the  restoration  of  the  railways  to  their 
prewar  condition.  The  necessary  rolling  stock  will  be  purchased  by 
the  State.  Authority  is  given  to  the  minister  to  guarantee  extra 
bonuses  for  the  staff  on  the  main  lines  equal  in  amount  to  the  bonuses 
paid  to  Government  servants.  The  total  expenditure  has  been  fixed 
at  600,000,000  francs,  480,000,000  of  which  will  go  to  pay  the  staff, 


FKANCE.  45 

and  120,000,000  will  be  available  for  the  reconstruction  work. — 
[Journal  des  Debats,  Jan.  2, 1919.] 
Housing  Reforms. 

In  order  to  bridge  the  gap  between  the  indemnity  and  the  value 
of  destroyed  homes,  and  to  insure  model  planning  from  the  stand- 
point of  sanitation  and  beauty,  a  patriotic  organization,  le  village 
reconstitute,  is  offering  premiums  to  villages  that  will  accept  stand- 
ard plans  drawn  up  by  famous  architects  for  the  rebuilding  of  their 
villages.  The  town  councils  are  free  to  choose  their  architects  and 
contractors. — [Star-Eagle,  Newark,  N.  J.,  Jan.  2, 1919.] 

Young  Women's  Christian  Association  Foyers. 

The  food  and  recreation  centers  established  by  the  Young  Women's 
Christian  Association  in  all  large  manufacturing  centers  during  the 
war  are  to  be  continued,  to  help  the  French  women  in  industry  in 
the  present  industrial  crisis.  French  women  have  asked  that  the 
withdrawal  of  the  personnel  of  these  centers  may  be  gradual  enough 
to  permit  the  French  to  carry  on  the  work  without  interruption. — 
[Living  Church,  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  Jan.  4,  1919.] 

Readaptation  of  Private  Factories. 

The  minister  of  finance  has  been  authorized  to  bring  in  a  bill  for 
the  readaptation  of  private  factories  which  have  been  working  for 
the  national  defense.  These  establishments  will  receive  important 
orders  for  materials  needed  by  the  administration  of  the  post  office, 
telephones,  telegraphs,  for  the  reconstruction  of  the  French  mer- 
chant marine,  and  also  orders  for  agricultural  machinery.  The 
former  minister  of  armament  will  distribute  orders  among  private 
factories  for  the  manufacture  of  tools  and  other  articles  much 
needed  in  the  country.  The  expense  which  it  will  be  necessary 
for  the  country  to  assume  in  this  connection  amounts  to  some 
2,000,000,000  francs  ($400,000,000).— [Report  of  U.  S.  commercial 
attache,  Nov.  27,  1918,  Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce, 
Jan.  6,  1919,  p.  49.] 

Ministry  of  Industrial  Reconstruction. 

The  important  economic  problems  now  before  the  country  and 
the  necessity  for  coordinating  all  efforts  to  secure  the  best  possible 
transition  between  war  and  peace  have  rendered  necessary  the  trans- 
formation of  the  ministry  of  armaments  and  munitions  into  a  min- 
istry of  industrial  reconstruction,  to  assure  the  best  economic  utiliza- 
tion of  the  resources  and  of  the  industries  which  the  war  has  de- 
veloped or  created.  The  organization  which,  during  the  continua- 
tion of  hostilities  assured  the  construction  of  a  considerable  plant, 
the  control  of  mines,  the  distribution  of  fuel,  and  of  metallurgic 
manufactures  of  all  sorts  was  first  relieved  of  certain  services  which 


46  FOREIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

would  naturally  return  to  the  ministry  of  war  from  whence  they 
were  taken.  All  the  other  services  pertaining  to  the  ministry  of 
armaments  and  munitions  remained  with  the  ministry  of  industrial 
reconstruction.  In  utilizing  these  organizations  its  principal  duties 
are: 

1.  To  assure  by  every  means  and  in  conjunction  with  the  minis- 
tries interested,  the  development  of  industrial  production  of  all 
kinds  according  to  available  labor  and  raw  material  and  according 
to  the  needs  of  the  Republic. 

2.  To  distribute  among  French  industries  the  orders  given  by  the 
different  ministers  in  agreement  with  those  ministries. 

During  the  war  the  ministry  of  armaments  has  directed  the  dis- 
tribution of  all  products  utilized  in  metallurgic  or  chemical  indus- 
tries. He  will  retain  control  of  all  products  which  require  to  be  dis- 
tributed, this  control  to  disappear  progressively  with  the  return  of 
economic  equilibrium.  The  minister  of  this  new  department  will 
assist  in  the  preparation  of  projects  relating  to  the  increase  of 
national  production.  A  program  has  been  elaborated  with  the  object 
of  adapting  munitions  factories  to  peace  industries.  Thus  a  vast 
arsenal  will  be  devoted  to  the  rebuilding  of  old  and  the  construc- 
tion of  new  railway  material;  explosive  factories  will  manufacture 
chemical  fertilizers ;  and  shops  which  have  been  working  in  wood  for 
aviation  will  manufacture  windows,  doors,  and  other  parts  for 
building  construction,  etc. — [L'Economiste  Francaise,  Nov.  30,  1918; 
Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Jan.  6,  1919,  p.  49.] 

Beconstmcting  the  Devastated  Begion. 

In  a  report  submitted  by  the  American  commercial  attache  in 
Paris,  an  account  is  given  of  a  visit  to  the  devastated  regions  of 
northern  France,  and  attention  is  called  to  the  problems  facing  the 
French  people  and  the  part  which  America  can  take  in  the  reconstruc- 
tion of  these  areas.  The  problem,  as  seen  by  him,  is  one  of  social 
engineering  in  the  solution  of  which  great  weight  must  be  given 
to  the  local  tastes,  prejudices,  laws,  and  needs  in  each  area. 
The  organization  and  execution  of  the  work  of  reconstructing  is  a 
task  which  must  largely  fall  upon  the  French  people.  America  will 
have  to  supply  French  factories  with  raw  materials  that  France 
does  not  produce  and  to  fill  in  certain  gaps  which  at  present  exist  in 
French  industries.  In  anticipation  of  the  part  to  be  taken  by  Amer- 
ica, it  is  recommended  that  facts  be  gathered  bearing  on  the  French 
problem  and  that  an  effective  export  selling  organization  be  created 
to  respond  to  the  call  that  France  will  ultimately  make  upon  our 
cooperation. — [Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Jan. 
15, 1919,  p.  209.] 


FRANCE.  47 

Economic  Organization. 

The  commission  appointed  to  inquire  into  the  economic  organiza- 
tion of  France  has  submitted  its  report  to  the  Government.  The 
most  important  points  are : 

Credit:  French  capital  must  be  prevented  from  leaving  the  coun- 
try. It  should  be  used  for  the  development  of  French  industry  and 
agriculture. 

Export  trade:  A  department  for  establishing  a  long-dated  credit 
for  export  trade  and  for  acquiring  information  essential  for  export- 
ers should  be  established.  Consuls  should  be  exper.ts  in  economic 
questions. 

Transport :  Railway  rolling  stock  must  be  increased,  and  modem 
loading  machinery  purchased.  A  revision  of  freight  rates  is  neces- 
sary. Inland  waterwaj^s  must  be  improved  and  connected  more  sat- 
isfactorily with  the  railways.  The  maritime  transport  service  must 
be  developed. 

Customs :  The  tariffs  must  be  Revised. 

Foreign  propaganda :  It  is  essential  to  carry  on  an  active  propa- 
ganda in  foreign  countries  to  make  France  and  her  products  better 
known. — [Temps,  Jan.  16,  1919.] 

Loans  for  Agricultural  Workers. 

The  general  council  of  the  Loire  department  voted  a  sum  of  600,- 
000  f ranees  ($115,800)  to  be  issued  for  the  purpose  of  encouraging 
agricultural  enterprises  and  the  repopulation  of  the  farming  dis- 
tricts. A  minimum  of  8  to  10  hectares  (about  20  to  25  acres)  may  be 
alloted  to  each  agriculturist  not  over  30  years  of  age,  if  not  mobilized, 
and  not  over  35  years  of  age,  if  mobilized,  who  will  promise  to  re- 
main 10  years  at  the  head  of  his  farm.  A  fixed  premium  of  1,000 
francs  ($193)  worth  of  farming  implements,  ($96.50)  worth  of 
agricultural  implements  for  each  10  hectares  (about  25  acres),  or  a 
total  up  to  2,000  f ranees  ($386)  is  granted,  to  be  refunded  within  15 
years.  If  children  are  born  after  taking  possession  of  the  farm,  parts 
of  this  loan  are  canceled  according  to  the  number  of  children. — 
[Report  of  U.  S.  consul  at  St.  Etienne,  Official  U.  S.  Bulletin,  Jan, 
18, 1919,  p.  32.] 

Suspension  of  French  Iron  and  Steel  Consortium. 

The  French  ministry  of  industrial  reconstruction  had  announced 
that  the  control  of  the  iron  and 'steel  consortium  over  imports  was 
withdrawn  from  January  2,  1919,  and  the  stocks  on  hand  are  being 
liquidated.  The  consortium  will  continue  to  exist  solely  for  the 
liquidation  of  stocks  of  iron  and  steel  now  held  in  various  parts  of 
France. — [Cablegram  from  the  clerk  to  the  U.  S.  commercial  at- 
tache at  Paris,  Jan.  16,  Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Com- 
merce, Jan.  23, 1919,  p.  353.] 


48  FOREIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

Agricultural  Machinery  Needed. 

The  agricultural  machinery  needed  by  France,  according  to  the  head 
of  the  American  Red  Cross  reconstruction  work  in  Paris,  is  of  the  fol- 
lowing variety:  81,000  plows,  56,000  cultivators,  30,000  mowing  ma- 
chines, 115,000  farm  wagons,  88,000  harrows,  50,000  rollers,  48,000 
hoes,  36,000  seed  drills,  13,000  fertilizers,  16,000  belt  extractors,  21,000 
winnowing  machines,  18,000  horse-drawn  rakes,  32,000  reapers  and 
binders,  and  53,000  root  cutters,  besides  other  farm  implements. 
There  are  now  no  horses  in  the  devastated  portions  of  France. — 
[Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Jan.  23, 1919,  p.  363.] 

Export  Prohibition. 

The  French  minister  of  blockade  has  decided  upon  the  revision  of 
the  list  of  prohibited  exports,  which  is  in  contemplation,  all  goods 
covered  by  a  direct  bill  of  lading  to  their  port  of  destination,  made 
out  at  the  port  of  shipment,  may  be  reexported  from  France  with- 
out special  authorization,  after  transit  through  or  transshipment  in 
that  country,  to  all  Allied  countries  and  to  neutral  countries  other 
than  those  in  the  neighborhood  of  Germany.  This  facility  is  also 
extended  to  the  northern  neutrals,  so  far  as  concerns  goods  which 
may  be  exported  to  those  countries  without  the  formality  of  a  guar- 
antee certificate. — [Annales  des  Douanes,  Jan.  15,  1919;  British 
Board  of  Trade  Journal,  Jan.  23,  1919,  ^.  116.] 

Disposal  of  War  Stores. 

The  French  minister  of  finance  has  set  up  a  special  office  (office  de 
liquidation  des  stocks)  responsible  for  the  disposal  and  sale  of  stocks 
of  miscellaneous  war  stores,  animals,  materials,  and  goods  of  all  sorts, 
surplus  to  the  requirements  of  Government  departments;  including 
those  handed  over  by  Allied  Armies  for  disposal,  and  also  stocks 
abandoned  by  the  enemy.  The  various  State  departments  are  re- 
quired to  notify  this  office,  of  stocks  available,  and  it  will  provide  for 
their  storage,  transport,  and  sale. — [British  Board  of  Trade  Journal, 
Jan.23, 1919,p.  102.] 

Reorganization  of  Ports. 

The  inadequate  equipment  and  organization  of  the  chief  seaports 
of  France  have  during  the  war  occasioned  great  wastage  of  foodstuffs 
and  other  imported  goods,  and  merchant  shipping  has  been  held  up 
in  overcrowded  ports  at  a  time  when  the  full  utilization  of  all  tonnage 
was  of  the  utmost  importance.  The  conference  of  port  and  dock 
workers,  in  trying  to  introduce  reforms,  has  pointed  out  that  the  first 
requisite  for  reorganization  is  that  the  working  machinery  of  the 
harbors  should  be  nationalized  instead  of  remaining  the  property  of 
private  firms;  that  electric  cranes  should  be  provided  to  permit  of 
extra  speed  in  loading  and  unloading;  that  new  gangways  must  be 
constructed  in  order  that  large  ships  may  draw  up  alongside  more 


FKANCE.  49 

quickly ;  and  that  capacious  warehouses  must  be  built  for  perishable 
merchandise.  The  conference  further  emphasizes  the  necessity  for 
the  solution  of  general  transport  problems,  such  as  the  development  of 
railways  and  canals. — [Europe  Nouvelle,  Jan.  25, 1919.] 

Rebuilding  Devastated  Areas. 

The  office  of  agricultural  reconstruction  of  the  ministry  of  blockade 
and  of  the  liberated  regions  has  been  voted  a  credit  of  $60,000,000  and 
a  revolving  fund  of  $20,000,000  for  its  work ;  and  the  office  of  indus- 
trial reconstruction  of  the  same  ministry,  a  credit  of  $50,000,000  and 
a  revolving  fund  of  $20,000,000.  It  is  expected  that  the  Chamber  of 
Deputies  will  pass  a  bill  granting  full  payment  for  every  kind  of 
damage,  including  any  extra  expenses  caused  by  the  increased  cost  of 
living,  materials,  and  labor.  In  the  meantime,  advances  in  cash  or  in 
kind  up  to  90  per  cent  of  the  appraised  property  damage  are  being 
made  to  people  who  wish  to  reestablish  their  property  without 
delay.  A  law  has  been  put  into  effect  providing  that  the  State  could 
requisition  the  piled-up  ruins  of  buildings  to  work  over  for  new 
buildings.  A  furniture  indemnity  law  will  also  be  passed  which 
provides  for  paying  damages  for  furniture  loss  up  to  $2,000,  and  a 
decree  has  been  issued  which  allows  the  individual  who  has  suffered 
loss  of  furniture  to  buy  his  own  furniture  with  an  advance,  which 
will  be  made  to  him  by  the  State,  of  a  sum  not  exceeding  $200  for  the 
head  of  the  family  and  $40  for  each  other  member  of  the  family.  If 
the  person  prefers,  the  State  will  provide  him  with  the  furniture 
out  of  the  stock  which  it  is  accumulating. — [Geo.  B.  Ford,  in  Engi- 
neering News-Eecord,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  30,  1919,  pp.  218-226.] 

Forestry  Scheme  Planned  by  Norwegians. 

A  forestry  party  of  about  50  Norwegians  fully  equipped  with  trees, 
tools,  tents,  and  stores  is  to  be  sent  from  Norway  to  assist  in  the 
restoration  of  the  devastated  parts  of  France  by  planting  a  belt  of 
Norwegian  forest  trees.  It  is  intended  to  begin  operations  this 
spring.  The  tentative  zone  for  planting  the  belt  of  trees  is  from  the 
Ardennes  toward  the  Belgian  frontier  behind  Arras,  where  there 
formerly  was  fine  forest;  but  action  will  be  taken  in  accordance  with 
the  desires  of  the  French. — [Canada  Lumbermen,  Toronto,  Canada, 
Feb.  1, 1919 ;  Commerce  Reports,  Feb.  8,  1919,  p.  621.] 
Mercantile  Marine. 

Maurice  Loir,  founder  of  the  Ligne  maritime  francaise  in  1898, 
has  published  a  pamphlet  of  60  pages,  wherein  he  pleads  for  the 
maintenance  and  increase  of  the  French  Navy  and  mercantile  marine. 
The  four  years  of  war,  he  says,  have  shown  how  much  France  de- 
pends upon  her  shipping,  and  it  is  imperative,  for  future  prosperity, 
to  have  an  adequate  mercantile  marine,  first-rate  commercial  ports, 
115488—19 4 


50  FOREIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

and  a  first-class  navy.  In  the  four  years  1913-1918,  France  paid 
about  11,000,000,000  francs  to  foreign  shipowners. — [Le  Petit  Mar- 
seillais,  Feb.  5,  1919.] 

Restoration  of  Forests. 

An  important -part  of  the  great  work  of  reconstructing  the  de- 
vastated sections  of  France  will  be  the  restoration  of  forests.  Neces- 
sarily this  will  be  slow  and  tedious,  and  help  will  be  asked  f r(jm  the 
outside.  A  plan  now  in  contemplation  involves  the  planting  of  250 
acres  annually  for  five  years  by  Norway,  which  has  a  superabundance 
of  trees.— [Times,  Troy,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  5,  1919.] 

Summary  of  Damage  of  France  in  the  War. 

A  hasty  investigation  since  the  signing  of  the  armistice  shows  the 
total  destruction  in  France  of  something  like  500,000  buildings  dam- 
aged and  at  least  250,000  buildings  completely  destroyed.  This  de- 
struction of  buildings  is  estimated  at  $6,000,000,000  by  the  Govern- 
ment engineers.  The  total  cost  of  repairing  and  replacing  the  used 
or  destroyed  public  works  is  estimated  at  about  $2,000,000,000.  The 
Nord  railroad  alone  has  lost  1,731  .bridges  and  338  stations.  It  is 
estimated  that  250,000  acres  are  rendered  uncultivable  by  the  war. 
The  total  damage  in  the  north  of  France,  including  buildings,  agri- 
culture, industry,  furniture,  and  public  works,  is  estimated  at  about 
$13,000,000,000.  These  were  the  figures  reported  for  the  committee 
on  budget  in  the  Chamber  of  Deputies,  December,  1918. — [Article  in 
New  York  Times  by  George  B.  Ford,  Research  Department,  Ameri- 
can Red  Cross  in  France;  Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Com- 
merce, Feb.  8,  1919,  p.  629.] 

Reoccnpation  of  Devastated  Land. 

The  French  Parliament  passed  a  law  during  the  war  whereby 
abandoned  farms  which  from  lack  of  labor  and  cultivation  are  un- 
productive can  be  reoccupied  by  refugees  who  would  bring  the  soil 
back  to  productivity.  For  their  efforts  they  will  be  allowed  by 
their  Government  $75  an  acre.  The  American  Committee  for  De- 
vastated France  took  over  two  large  farms  whereon  it  established 
many  refugee  families  and  gave  them  shelter  and  occupation  in  culti- 
vating the  neglected  areas.  It  applied  to  the  French  Government 
for  an  allowance  under  this  law  and  received  $30,000.  This  action 
has  set  a  precedent  which  will  be  of  inestimable  value  to  all  farmers 
in  France. — [American,  Baltimore,  Md.,  Feb.  16,  1919.] 

French  Telephone  Service  Resumed. 

Telephone  communication  between  the  various  departments  of 
France,  which  has  been  suspended  since  the  beginning  of  hostilities, 
was  resumed  February  16.     Only  the  narrow  zones  bordering  the 

Swiss  and  Spanish  frontiers  are  excepted. — [Tribune,  New  York, 
N.  Y.,  Feb.  17,  1919.] 


FEANCB.  51 

Materials  for  Reconstruction. 

In  its  work  of  reconstruction  of  the  devastated  districts,  there  will 
be  a  need  of  millions  of  dollars  worth  of  materials,  steel,  machinery, 
and  agricultural  implements,  and  America  is  the  one  nation  in  a 
favorable  position  to  bid  for  this  gigantic  market.  It  is  believed  that 
the  import  bars  which  have  been  up  since  the  armistice  went  into 
elrect  will  be  removed. — [American,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  18,  1919.] 

Financing  War  Debt. 

As  part  of  his  financial  policy,  the  minister  of  finance  announced 
the  institution  of  a  tax  on  capital  spreading  over  a  number  of  years, 
making  evasion  impossible ;  continued  appeal  to  the  public  for  credit 
at  reduced  interest  rate,  minimum  taxes,  etc. ;  and  possible  request 
for  an  interallied  loan. — [Star,  Washington,  D.  C,  Feb.  19,  1919.] 

Reconstruction  in  the  Liberated  Regions. 

The  ministry  of  finance  presented  to  the  Chamber  of  Deputies  pro- 
visional credits  for  exceptional  military  and  civil  expenditures  for 
the  second  quarter  of  1919.  Among  other  items,  the  bill  calls  for  an 
expenditure  of  62,000,000  francs  for  reconstruction  of  industries  and 
1,256,000,000  francs  for  the  needs  of  the  liberated  regions. — [Times, 
New  York,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  21, 1919.] 

Dutch  Government  to  Help  in  Reconstruction. 

The  Dutch  Government  sent  a  commission  to  Paris,  which  will 
study  the  requirements  of  the  liberated  territories  and  the  measures 
suitable  for  Holland  to  take  in  order  to  assist  in  the  work  of  re- 
construction there.  The  preliminary  interviews  with  the  French 
authorities  have  shown  that  Holland's  assistance  will  be  most  useful 
in  the  matter  of  supplying  building  materials,  agricultural  machin- 
ery, and  live  stock.  Her  help  will  also  be  welcome  in  other  direc- 
tions, such  as  the  rebuilding  of  houses  and  factories,  for  supplying 
dredges,  tugs,  lighters,  barges,  and  engines,  as  well  as  technical 
engineers,  labor,  and  public  works  contractors.  The  commission  has 
returned  to  Holland  to  submit  its  report  to  the  Government. — [Echo 
de  Paris,  Feb.  21,  1919.] 

Reconstruction. 

The  American  commercial  attache  at  Paris  has  stated  that  France 
will  ask  but  very  little  in  the  way  of  commercial  aid  from  the  United 
States ;  that  certain  raw  materials  may  be  needed  and  France  is  apt 
to  find  that  she  can  not  get  along  without  a  variety  of  American  man- 
ufactured goods,  but  for  the  present  American  business  men  will  only 
be  wasting  their  efforts  by  attempting  to  gain  a  hold  on  the  French 
reconstruction  markets.  He  further  said  that  during  the  war  the 
French  munition  factories  rapidly  absorbed  all  refugees  from  the  in- 
vaded districts,  while  every  eligible  man  was  thrust  into  the  army. 
Now,  however,  there  is  no  longer  any  need  for  extensive  armament, 


52  FOREIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

no  longer  any  need  for  a  large  army,  and  the  French  Government  has 
a  tremendous  problem  of  unemployment  to  settle,  and  it  claims  the 
privilege  of  settling  it  by  doing  its  own  reconstruction. — [Record, 
Boston,  Mass.,  Feb.  21,  1919.] 

All  through  the  war  the  French  Senate  has  had  a  commission 
studying  the  economic  organization  of  the  country  for  the  purpose  of 
understanding  clearly  the  situation  after  the  war.  Taken  in  order, 
the  following  points  sum  up  what  the  most  responsible  representa- 
tives of  French  business  deem  necessary  now:  1.  France  needs  all 
her  own  capital  to  develop  her  own  and  her  colonies  industry,  trade, 
and  agriculture;  2,  the  French  manufacturers  and  merchants  must 
organize  for  the  purpose  of  exportation,  "  with  the  aid  of  the  State, 
if  need  be,"  and  develop  exact  and  practical  business  information  for 
the  benefit  of  exporters,  using  particularly  the  consular  service  for 
this  purpose ;  3,  the  930,000  tons  of  French  shipping  destroyed  by  the 
enemy  must  be  restored,  keel  for  keel  and  ton  for  ton,  from  German 
and  Austro-Hungarian  ships,  France  to  buy  at  once  1,000,000  tons 
shipping  from  England  and  1,000,000  tons  from  the  United  States, 
and  American  shipyards  to  be  opened  to  French  shipbuilders  for  the 
construction  of  2,000,000  tons  of  freight  steamers  which  will  be 
authorized  to  fly  the  French  flag;  4,  a  customs  revision  among  the 
Allies  is  reconmiended,  and  even  the  establishment  in  France  of  free 
ports  and  free  zones ;  and,  5,  for  the  Peace  Treaty  it  is  recommended 
that  the  freedom  of  the  Rhine,  which  even  Switzerland  needs,  be 
guaranteed  and  the  interests  of  Alsace-Lorraine  in  mines  and 
Strasburg  as  a  port  be  provided  for,  with  the  settlement  of  all  ques- 
tions of  raw  materials  until  Germany  no  longer  has  that  advantage 
over  France  which  she  has  gained  by  her  destruction  in  war. — [Post, 
New  York,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  22, 1919.] 

Beconstruction  of  Devastated  Areas. 

The  United  States  War  Finance  Corporation  has  stated  that  esti- 
mates of  the  French  High  Commission  indicated  that  France  would 
need  $414,000,000  in  materials  from  the  United  States  early  this  year 
for  reconstruction.  This  includes  food,  cotton,  gasoline,  and  petrol, 
window  glass,  locomotives,  railway  cars,  and  agricultural  imple- 
ments. The  United  States  War  Finance  Corporation  proposes  to 
extend  credits  to  exporters  based  on  orders  for  these  materials  from 
the  French  Government  or  responsible  French  commercial  inter- 
ests.—[Record,  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  Feb.  23,  1919.] 
labor  Platform. 

The  general  federation  of  labor  has  requested  Premier  Clemenceau 
to  create  a  national  economic  council  including  representatives  of 
labor  organizations,  and  having  as  its  objectives  the  improvement  of 
economic  conditions  of  the  country  and  the  coordination  of  the  coun- 
try's resources  and  genius. — [World,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  23, 1919.] 


FKANCE.  53 

Treatment  of  Consumptives. 

The  chief  of  the  health  service  has  put  before  the  French  Chamber 
of  Deputies  a  proposed  law  for  the  treatment  and  care  of  tubercu- 
losis. He  stated  that  France  has  cared  for  55,000  tubercular  soldiers 
during  the  war  and  that  there  are  to-day  at  least  500,000  cases  of  con- 
sumption in  France,  which  is  a  serious  figure  in  a  country  which, 
even  before  the  war,  was  beset  by  the  problem  of  depopulation.  The 
proposed  law  provides  for  dispensaries  and  hospital  care  wherever 
necessary,  and  for  pensions  to  families  when  the  wage  worker  is  in 
a  hospital.  The  estimated  cost  is  an  initial  expenditure  of  84,000,000 
francs  and  100,000,000  francs  more  are  to  be  expended  annually. — 
[The  Survey,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Mar.  1, 1919,  p.  803.] 

Reconstruction  of  Transportation  Facilities. 

The  minister  of  public  works,  in  a  report  to  President  Poincare, 
said  that  900,000,000  francs  should  be  expended  for  the  construction 
of  new  main  railroad  lines,  875,000,000  francs  for  the  construction  of 
local  railway  lines,  350,000,000  francs  for  the  reconstruction  of 
waterways,  200,000,000  francs  for  building  and  rebuilding  roads, 
and  600,000,000  francs  for  the  reconstruction  and  improvement  of 
maritime  ports. — [American,  Baltimore,  Md.,  Mar.  24, 1919.] 

Air  Traffic. 

The  interministerial  commission  of  civil  aeronautics  has  submitted 
to  the  French  ministry  of  war  a  report  which  comprises  a  "  Project 
of  international  convention  regarding  air  navigation,"  and  proposes, 
to  forbid  the  carrying  of  cameras,  war  appliances,  or  ammunition 
on  airships  without  special  authorization,  and  to  allow  the  contract- 
ing Governments  to  forbid  private  individuals  of  any  nationality 
to  fly  over  certain  specified  zones  of  their  territory.  Provision  is 
made  for  the  classification  and  registering  of  all  airships,  whether 
planes,  balloons,  or  dirigibles,  the  lists  to  be  exchanged  between  the 
contracting  Governments.  It  is  also  proposed  to  standardize  the 
conditions  under  which  navigation  licenses  will  be  granted  machines 
and  to  pilots.  Various  annexes  to  the  report  offer  provisions  for 
the  standardization  of  lights  on  airships  and  for  route  and  driving 
regulations,  and  suggest  a  number  of  distress  signals  which  it  is 
proposed  to  offer  as  a  basis  for  an  international  code. — [Commerce 
Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Apr.  1,  1919,  p.  15.] 
Financial  Aid  for  Restoring  Devastated  Provinces. 

A  few  days  after  the  entry  of  the  French  troops  into  Alsace  a 
committee  was  formed  to  raise  money  to  assist  in  restoring  the 
devastated  northern  Provinces  of  France.  The  committee  has  for- 
warded 1,000,000  francs  to  President  Poincare  as  a  testimony  of  the 
gratitude  of  Alsace  to  France. — [Standard,  Cortland,  N.  Y.,  Apr.  1, 
1919.] 


54  FOREIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

Reconstruction  of  Devastated  Areas. 

The  Department  of  the  Somme  is  beginning  to  clean  up  the  fields 
and  lodge  the  laborers  as  near  as  possible  to  their  property,  so  that 
when  the  war  damages  have  been  paid  actual  building  can  be  imme- 
diately started.  In  each  commune  a  new  plan  has  been  elaborated. 
The  plan  of  the  village  is  first  drawn  up,  then  the  ruins  are  cleared 
away  according  to  a  recent  law.  The  State  pays  for  this,  and  each 
man  is  advised  of  the  operation  when  the  turn  of  his  house  comes, 
so  that  he  can  watch  the  operation,  for  many  people  have  hidden 
valuables  on  the  premises  or  hope  to  find  some  valued  souvenir  of 
their  former  home.  Attempts  are  being  made  to  get  all  the  inhab- 
itants of  each  commune  to  put  their  money  into  a  common  fund,  and 
maintain  one  building  yard  for  each  town. — [Sun,  Baltimore,  Md., 
Apr.  13,  1919.] 

GERMAN-AUSTRIA. 

Public  Welfare. 

The  sphere  of  activities  of  the  ministry  for  the  social  welfare 
(ministerium  flir  soziale  fiirsorge)  in  Austria  is  to  be  divided  into 
five  main  departments :  The  care  of  the  young ;  the  care  of  those  dis- 
abled and  those  bereaved  by  the  war ;  national  insurance ;  industrial 
legislation  and  the  protection  of  the  workmen;  housing.  The  main 
object  of  the  new  ministry  is  the  express  care  of  the  public  welfare 
in  general  as  well  as  the  improvement  of  the  condition  of  the  laboring 
and  less  wealthy  classes.  Its  policy  will  be  to  foster  "a  constant 
harmonious  cooperation  of  Government  administration  with  autono- 
mous bodies,  and  with  directorates  of  charitable  societies." — [Soziale 
Praxis,  Nov.  1,  1917.] 

Relief  of  Unemployed  During  Transition  Period. 

The  German-Austrian  secretary  of  state  for  social  welfare  has 
issued  instructions  for  the  formation  of  industrial  district  commis- 
sions to  deal  with  the  question  of  unemployment  and  its  consequences 
during  the  transition  period.  They  will  be  appointed  by  him,  and  are 
to  consist  of  a  chairman,  vice  chairman,  and  four  to  eight  members, 
of  whom  half  will  represent  employers  and  the  other  half  the  workers. 
They  appoint  from  their  number  subcommittees  for  individual 
branches  of  industry  and,  if  necessary,  for  particular  trades  in 
which  employers  and  workpeople  are  to  be  equally  represented.  A 
central  industrial  commission  will  be  formed  at  the  social  welfare 
office  to  determine  general  measures  to  be  adopted  for  the  relief  of 
the  unemployed,  and  will  work  through  the  agency  of  the  existing 
central  labor  exchange.  The  expenses  of  these  commissions  will  be 
borne  by  the  State.  Any  employer  who  proposes  to  dismiss  more 
than  20  workers  in  the  course  of  a  week  will  have  to  inform  the 
local  industrial  commission  of  the  number  and  date  of  dismissals 


GERMANY.  55 

and  the  wages  of  those  dismissed,  under  penalty  of  a  fine  not  exceed- 
ing 2,000  marks.     Arbitration  officers  have  also  been  appointed. — 
[Neue  Freie  Presse,  Nov.  5,  1918.] 
Organization  for  Demobilization. 

To  deal  with  the  question  of  demobilization  in  German-Austria 
the  national  council  has  appointed  an  industrial  commission  repre- 
sentative of  employers  and  employees,  which  will  be  extended  to  in- 
clude mercantile  and  technical  elements.  Six  hundred  thousand  mu- 
nition workers  have  to  be  cared  for ;  and  the  commission  has  already 
prepared  schemes  arriving  at  securing  food  for  the  workers,  abolish- 
ing compulsion  in  war  work,  reviving  peace-time  production,  and 
preventing  immediate  dismissals  by  arranging  the  date  and  order 
of  closing  down  of  munition  works.  Some  relief  is  to  be  effected  by 
sending  off  workers  of  foreign  nationalities  to  their  own  States. — 
[Norddeutsche  Allgemeine  Zeitung,  Nov.  7,  1918.] 
Provision  for  the  Unemployed. 

The  national  council  has  empowered  the  secretary  of  state  to  carry 
through  a  scheme  for  the  maintenance  of  the  unemployed.  All  work- 
ers subject  to  sickness-insurance  obligations,  and  belonging  to  Ger- 
man-Austria, receive  from  November  18,  1918,  to  February  15,  1919, 
for  every  day  of  certified  unemployment  an  allowance  to  the  amount 
of  the  daily  sick  pay,  in  most  cases  4  to  6  krone,  in  addition  to 
a  daily  bonus  of  1  krone  for  every  member  of  the  family,  wife,  or 
child  under  14  years  of  age  who  does  not  receive  any  public  relief. 
Men  of  foreign  nationality,  who  were  previously  employed  in  Ger- 
man-Austrian works,  receive  such  allowance  only  if  their  own  coun- 
try acts  reciprocally. — [Weltwirtschaftszeitung,  Nov.  29,  1918.] 
Measures  to  Combat  "Unemployment. 

The  German- Austrian  cabinet  council  has  been  occupied  with 
various  measures  intended  to  combat  unemployment.  In  order  to 
facilitate  the  financial  management  of  business  concerns  it  is  in- 
tended to  establish  a  loan  office  for  the  transition  period  in  order 
to  advance  money  on  future  production  by  issuing  bonds.  More- 
over, an  announcement  is  to  be  made  that  the  full  utilization  of  the 
water  power  in  the  country,  and  the  supply  of  electricity,  is  to  be 
entrusted  to  an  electricity  office.  The  various  offices  of  the  State 
are  to  consult  together  with  regard  to  public  works,  agriculture,  com- 
munications, and  trade.  The  daily  increase  of  unemployment  neces- 
sitates the  acceleration  of  these  labors. — [Neue  Freie  Presse,  Dec.  15, 
1918.] 

GERMANY. 

Scheme  of  Legislation  of  Social  Democratic  Party. 

The  executive  of  the  social  democratic  party  submitted  to  the 
annual  conference  of  the  party  held  at  Wiirtzburg  a  scheme  of  social 


56  FOREIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

legislation  after  the  war.    The  following  topics  are  covered  in  the 
scheme : 

1.  Protection  of  labor. 

a.  General. 

h.  Protection  of  health. 

c.  Daily  working  hours. 

d.  Night  work. 

e.  Sunday  rest. 

/.  Protection  of  female  workers. 

g.  Protection  of  children  and  juveniles. 

h.  Protection  of  home  workers. 

i.  Industrial  inspection. 

2.  Workmen's  insurance. 

3.  Public  health. 

4.  The  right  to  strike. 

5.  Reform  of  the  labor  law. 

6.  Representation  of  workers'  interests. 

7.  Arbitration  offices. 

8.  Employment  exchanges  and  care  of  the  unemployed. 

9.  Poor  law. 

10.  Care  of  juveniles. 

11.  Housing. 

12.  Imperial  office  for  social  legislation. 

13.  Measures  on  behalf  of  ex-soldiers,  including  the  disabled. 
[Bremer  Burgerzeitung,  Oct.  19,  1917.] 

Transition  Economy,  Imperial  Commission  for. 

The  imperial  commission  for  transition  economy  is  composed  of 
the  imperial  commissioner  and  nine  colleagues,  of  whom  one  is  the 
deputy  of  the  imperial  commissioner,  and  the  remainder  are  dis- 
tinguished representatives  of  agriculture,  industry,  commerce,  and 
shipping,  nominated  by  the  imperial  chancellor.  Each  of  the  nine 
is  head  of  a  department.  For  each  one  of  them  a  general  repre- 
sentative has  been  appointed,  who  is  permanently  engaged  in  the 
imperial  commission.    The  organization  is  as  follows : 

The  imperial  commissioner  for  transition  economy ;  his  deputy. 
Dept.  1.  Finance. 

Dept.  2.  Organization  for  transportation. 
Dept.  3.  Iron   ores,   manganese   ores,    slag,   chrome,   wolfram    and 

molybdenum  ores,  timber,  paper,  stone. 
Dept.  4.  Lead,  antimony,  zinc,  tin,  nickel,  cobalt,  copper,  and  their 

corresponding  ores,  china,  clay,  graphite,  machinery. 
Dept.  5.  Textiles. 

Dept.  6.  Cereals,  barley,  maize,  bran,  and  other  albuminous  feeding- 
stuffs,  meat,  live  cattle. 
Dept.  7.  Seaborne  imports. 


GEBMANY.  57 

Dept.  8.  Overland  imports,  import  restriction,  coal  and  other  min- 
eral fuels,  phosphates  with  the  exception  of  phosphates 
and  pyrites  to  be  found  in  Asia  Minor. 
Dept.  9.  General  organization  of  transition  economy,  regulations  re- 
garding the  amount  and  sequence  of  meeting  require- 
ments, prior  purchases. 
Special  Dept.  a.  General  matters  relating  to  administration,  finance, 

personnel. 
Special  Dept.  h.  Statistics. 

The  imperial  commission  has  established  expert  committees  and 
subcommittees  for  the  various  groups  of  commodities.     Some  of  the 
above    departments   have    subdepartments.     [Norddeutsche    AUge- 
meine  Zeitung,  February,  1918.] 
Housing,  Provision  for. 

The  Reichstag  has  accepted  the  proposals  laid  before  it  by  the 
committee  for  housing.  This  provides  that  the  imperial  economy 
office,  as  the  central  office  for  transition  economy,  is  to  undertake  the 
direction  of  a  systematic  scheme  for  providing  houses  after  the  war. 
It  provides  500,000,000  marks  from  the  imperial  exchequer  for  mak- 
ing grants  and  loans  on  reasonable  terms  as  well  as  for  forming  a 
guarantee  fund.  The  insurance  offices,  cooperative  trade  societies, 
and  public  savings  banks  are  to  invest  all  available  sums  as  far  as 
possible  in  loans  on  small  buildings  at  a  moderate  rate  of  interest. 
Numerous  other  provisions  are  made  to  encourage  construction  of 
housing  accommodations. — [Frankfurter  Zeitung,  May  12,  1918.] 

Discharged  Soldiers'  Welfare. 

On  June  1,  a  reorganization  of  military  welfare  work  was  initi- 
ated by  the  establishment  of  special  maintenance  offices  in  all  army 
corps  districts.  These  offices  are  to  look  after  the  maintenance  of 
and  provisions  for  discharged  soldiers  of  the  lower  ranks,  and  their 
dependents,  as  prescribed  by  law ;  vocational  advice  and  measures,  in 
connection  with  the  return  to  civilian  occupations  of  officers  and  men ; 
proposals  for  special  courses  of  treatment  for  invalids,  as  well  as 
pensions  for  dependents. — [Correspondenzblatt  der  Gewerkschaften, 
June  29,  1918.] 
Textile  Trade  after  the  War. 

The  Bundesrat  on  June  27,  1918,  issued  a  decree  prescribing  the 
economic  measures  to  be  taken  for  the  transition  period  in  the  tex- 
tile industry.  It  establishes  an  imperial  office  for  textile  economy, 
subordinate  to  the  imperial  chancellor,  and  separate  imperial  eco- 
nomic suboffices  for  cotton,  wool,  silk,  artificial  spinning  materials, 
waste  stuffs,  flax,  hemp,  jute,  hard  fibers,  and  substitute  fibers.  The 
purpose  of  this  organization  is  to  remedy  the  grievances  of  the  tex- 


58  FOREIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

tile  manufacturers  during  the  transition  from  war  to  peace  econ- 
omy.— [Reichsanzeiger,  July  1,  1918.] 

Disabled  Soldiers,  Company  for  Training  and  Giving  Employment  to. 

In  Baden,  early  in  1917,  a  company  was  formed  for  the  purpose  of 
starting  special  centers  and  industries  for  the  purpose  of  providing 
training  and  employment  for  disabled  men.  Most  of  the  capital  re- 
quired was  subscribed  by  Baden  manufacturers.  The  company's  plan 
is  to  carry  on  industries  of  its  own  which  will  serve  not  only  as  train- 
ing centers  but  as  industrial  concerns  in  which  men,  who  are  not 
likely  to  hold  their  own  in  the  ordinary  labor  market,  can  be  em- 
ployed permanently  according  to  their  capacity.  The  establishments 
acquired  by  the  company  include  a  sawmill,  a  machinery  construc- 
tion and  repair  business,  a  jewelry  factory,  and  wood- working  estab- 
lishments.— [Concordia,  July  15,  1918.] 

Disabled  Soldiers,  Reinstatement  in  Municipal  Service. 

The  German  Municipal  Association  instituted  an  inquiry  the  be- 
ginning of  this  year  as  to  the  reinstatement  by  municipal  authorities 
of  employees  who  have  been  disabled  in  the  war.  It  was  found  that 
all  municipal  authorities  are  agreed  that  their  disabled  employees 
must  be  given  suitable  reemployment  and  that  they  must  be  treated 
sympathetically,  many  having  passed  resolutions  declaring  rein- 
statement to  be  their  duty.  Some  municipalities,  however,  have  re- 
served the  right  to  impose  considerable  limitations. — [Kommunale 
Praxis,  August,  1918.] 
Housing  Administration  during  Transition  Period. 

An  imperial  commissariat  for  housing  has  been  appointed  in  the 
imperial  economic  office  for  the  special  duty  of  administration  in  the 
housing  domain  during  the  transition  period.  The  following  duties 
were  assigned  to  him : 

1.  Distribution  of  available  military  and  naval  stocks  of  building 
materials  of  the  army  and  navy,  which  can  be  dispensed  with. 

2.  Encouragement  of  the  production  of  building  materials. 

3.  Control  of  the  sale  of  building  materials. 

4.  Grant  of  building  subsidies  from  funds  to  be  supplied  by  the 
imperial  commissariat. 

The  imperial  commissariat  represents  the  state  secretary  of  the 
imperial  economic  office  in  carrying  out  the  above  duties  on  his  own 
responsibility.    A  committee  will  be  appointed  to  which  fundamental 
questions  will  be  referred. — [Berliner  Tageblatt,  Sept.  3,  1918.] 
Transition  Economy. 

The  imperial  economy  office  has  prepared  regulations  for  three 
departments  of  transition  economy :  "  Colonial  goods,"  textile  indus- 
tries, and  navigation. — [Oesterreichisher  Yolkswirt,  Sept.  7,  1918.] 


GERMANY.  59 

TTnemployment  Relief  in  Transition  Period. 

The  Frankfort  town  council  has  approved  a  scheme  for  unem- 
ployment relief  in  the  transition  period.  Unemployment  relief  is  to 
be  given,  within  fixed  limits,  to  persons  who  have  not  been  inde- 
pendent but  earning  full-time  wages,  and  who,  in  consequence  of 
lack  of  employment,  require  relief.    Such  persons  are : 

1.  Males  over  16  who  have  lived  for  at  least  26  weeks  in  Frank- 
fort, or  who  lived  in  Frankfort  up  to  August  1,  1914,  and  were  not 
in  merely  temporary  employment. 

2.  Females  over  16  who  live  alone  or  manage  the  household,  or 
are  the  breadwinners  of  husband,  parents,  grandparents,  or  brothers 
and  sisters,  or  who  before  the  war  were  full-time  wage  earners,  pro- 
vided that  they  have  lived  in  Frankfort  for  26  weeks  and  have  not 
merely  come  to  the  city  to  work  in  war  industries.  A  schedule  of 
rates  of  relief  has  been  adopted. — ^[Norddeutsche  AUgemeine  Zeitung, 
^ept.  7,  1918.] 

Peace  Economy  Committee. 

In  Hamburg  a  committee  for  the  reconstruction  of  peace  economy 
has  been  formed  and  is  actively  supported  by  the  leading  figures 
in  the  commercial  world  of  Hamburg. — [Norddeutsche  AUgemeine 
Zeitung,  Sept.  8,  1918.] 
Disabled  Soldiers,  Fund  for  the  Relief  of. 

An  appeal  for  contributions  to  the  "Ludendorf  fund"  was 
launched  in  May,  1918,  and  was  indorsed  by  the  highest  officials  of 
the  Empire.  The  purpose  of  the  fund  is  not  to  relieve  the  State  of 
the  duty  of  providing  pensions,  but  to  give  relief  in  cases  where  the 
law,  on  account  of  its  rigidity,  could  not  make  sufficient  provision. 
Many  sick  and  internally  injured  soldiers  were  discharged  without 
pensions,  and  are,  therefore,  dependent  on  voluntary  aid.  In  carry- 
ing out  the  plans  for  vocational  training,  finding  employment,  pro- 
viding homesteads,  etc.,  funds  over  and  above  the  State  grants  are 
indispensable. — [Soziale  Praxis,  October,  1918.] 
Blinded  Soldiers,  Care  of. 

The  pensions  and  allowances  for  blinded  soldiers  vary  according 
to  rank,  the  total  amount  per  year  for  a  private  being  1,368  marks. 
Several  private  funds  have  been  created  for  the  benefit  of  blinded 
soldiers. 

There  are  two  official  committees  which  deal  solely  with  the  welfare 
of  the  blind,  the  imperial  committee  for  the  care  of  blinded  soldiers, 
and  a  committee  appointed  by  the  ministry  of  trade  and  of  public 
instruction.  The  first  named  keeps  in  touch  with  all  provincial  or- 
ganizations and  institutions  for  blinded  soldiers,  and  the  other 
investigates  the  possibility  of  employing  the  blind  in  factories. 
The  men  themselves  have  organized  a  "  German  League  of  Blinded 
Soldiers." 


60  FOREIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

The  best  methods  of  training  the  blind  are  being  investigated. 
The  various  institutions  for  the  blind  in  existence  before  the  war  have 
undertaken  the  training  of  blinded  men,  and  a  few  institutions  ex- 
pressly for  service  men  have  been  established.  The  decision  of  a 
committee  set  up  by  the  ministries  of  trade  and  of  public  instruction 
seems  to  be  that  it  is  quite  practicable  to  give  blinded  men  work  in 
paper,  incandescent  lamp,  chocolate,  button,  box,  tobacco,  pen,  and 
tool  factories.  They  find  that  many  manufacturers  are  willing  to 
employ  them,  and  that  the  risk  of  accident  will  be  quite. small  if 
proper  protective  measures  are  taken. — [Soziale  Praxis,  October, 
1918.] 

Labor  Department  Created. 

By  an  imperial  decree  dated  October  4,  1918,  matters  relating  to 
social  policy,  administered  hitherto  by  the  imperial  economy  office, 
are  to  be  within  the  province  of  a  special  central  authority  under  the 
direct  control  of  the  imperial  chancellor,  entitled  the  imperial  labof 
department.— [Der  Welthandel,  Oct.  12,  1918.] 

Commercial  Policies  after  the  War. 

On  the  invitation  of  a  committee  representing  the  large  commercial 
and  shipping  interests  in  Hamburg,  members  of  the  German  Gov- 
ernment and  Reichstag  visited  Hamburg  on  June  15  and  16  to  dis- 
cuss the  main  features  of  German  commercial  policies  after  the 
war. — [Commerce  Reports,  IT.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Oct.  19,  1918, 
p.  266.] 

Disabled  Soldiers,  Railway  Concessions  for. 

German  railway  authorities  have  decided  to  exempt  disabled  sol- 
diers, when  traveling  on  journeys  undertaken  for  the  purpose  of 
obtaining  treatment,  training,  or  employment,  from  the  100  per  cent 
increase  on  express-train  fares. — [Hamburgischer  Correspondent, 
Oct.  19,  1918.] 
Reconstruction  Scheme  of  Trade-Unions. 

A  reconstruction  scheme  has  been  drawn  up  by  the  various  German 
trade-unions  and  associations  of  shop  assistants  and  clerks,  and  pre- 
sented on  June  30,  1917,  in  the  form  of  a  petition  to  the  Bundesrat 
and  the  Reichstag.  The  demands  contained  therein  are  ranged  under 
seven  heads:  General  economic  measures,  food,  supply  employment 
exchange,  discharge  of  soldiers  and  men  of  auxiliary  service,  protec- 
tion of  labor,  protection  of  soldiers  and  their  dependents,  housing. — 
[Correspondenzblatt  der  Generalcommission  der  Gewerkschaften 
Deutschlands,  Oct.  20, 1918.] 

Discharged  Soldiers,  Clothing  for. 

The  national  clothing  office  has  published  arrangements  for  pro- 
viding needy  discharged  soldiers  with  clothes,  some  of  them  made  out 


GERMANY.  61 

of  military  uniforms.  Applicants  for  the  clothes  must  show  that  they 
are  unable  to  buy  them  in  the  open  market  at  prevailing  prices. 
Some  of  the  clothing  will  be  given  away  free  to  the  poorest  and  others 
will  receive  a  grant  of  10.14  marks  toward  payment.  The  treasury 
has  granted  21,000,000  marks  for  this  purpose.  In  addition  the  mu- 
nicipalities must  allot  to  discharged  soldiers  one-third  of  the  worn 
clothing  they  have  collected.^ — [Norddeutsche  AUgemeine  Zeitung, 
Oct.  21,  1918.] 

Demobilization  and  Placement. 

The  "  Neue  Borzenberichte "  addressed  a  circular  to  a  number  of 
joint-stock  companies  with  a  view  to  ascertaining  the  opinions  of 
their  directors  as  to  industrial  prospects  in  the  event  of  peace.  The 
replies  received  differed  considerably,  but  nearly  all  were  agreed 
that  while  the  first  months  of  the  transition  period  would  be  accom- 
panied by  certain  inconveniences,  as  a  general  rule  there  would  be  no 
lack  of  opportunities  for  employment. — [Der  Welthandel,  Oct.  26, 
1918.] 
Demobilization  of  Labor,  Commission  for. 

In  the  Reichstag  committee  for  industry  and  commerce  it  was  an- 
nounced that  a  commission  had  been  convened  for  the  demobilization 
of  labor.— [Kolnische  Zeitung,  Oct.  28,  1918.] 
Employment  for  the  Demobilized. 

The  union  of  employers'  associations  has  declared  its  readiness  to 
support  the  Government  measures  for  demobilization  to  its  utmost 
capacity  by  taking  back,  as  far  as  possible,  all  men  previously  in  their 
employ.  It  is  expected  that  the  Government  will  supply  the  raw 
material  necessary  to  restart  factories,  and  that  Government  contracts 
will  be  extended  and  fairly  distributed  in  the  interests  of  the  working 
population. — [Norddeutsche  AUgemeine  Zeitung,  Oct.  28,  1918.] 
Employers'  Socio-Political  Program. 

German  employers'  organizations  are  taking  every  opportunity 
to  bring  before  the  public,  by  means  of  the  press,  pamphlets,  and 
speeches,  their  own  special  point  of  view  on  every  economic  and 
socio-political  question.  The  argument  is  skillfully  adduced  how 
nobly  German  industry  and  private  enterprise  have  worked  together 
in  the  war  and  how  fervently  desired  is  the  abolition  of  all  State 
control.  Their  understanding  of  "  social  policy "  is  "  the  laying- 
down  of  principles  for  a  suitable  standard  of  living  by  statute  and 
practice,  as  well  as  the  encouragement  of  the  individual  in  his  work 
and  his  capacity  for  doing  it,  and  the  raising  of  the  status  of  the 
worker  generally  by  strengthening  and  enlarging  his  responsibilities." 
A  wage  policy  is  defined  as  being  sound  "  when  it  combines  the  possi- 
bility of  a  competent  livelihood  for  the  workers  with  that  of  increased 
prosperity  of  the  undertaking."    To  grant  wages  beyond  the  scale  of 


62  FOKEIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

moderate  pretensions  would  be  ''to  change  the  undertaking  into  a 
charitable  institution  "  and  permanently  injure  the  whole  business. 

The  organizations  state  that  wages  should  be  profitably  and  suit- 
ably expended  on  housing  and  domestic  requirements;  that  em- 
ployers of  labor  should  cooperate  with  the  communities  and  the  State 
in  this  object;  and  that  they  will  gladly  promote  the  physical  and 
mental  development  of  employees  and  give  advice  as  to  tlie  choice  of 
trade,-  apprenticeships,  and  vocational  training. 

The  frequently  advocated  insurance  against  unemployment  is  dep- 
recated— unemployed  should  be  given  work,  not  pensions.  The  right 
of  organization  for  all  employees  and  employers  is  maintained. 

It  is  advocated  that  the  employer  must  not  be  restricted  by  statute 
in  his  choice  of  employees  and  in  his  power  of  discharging  them. 
This  applies  to  the  engagement  of  disabled  soldiers,  in  which  matter 
the  employer  must  be  left  complete  freedom  of  action.  In  public 
contracts  the  employer  is  to  have  the  benefit  of  the  strike  clause,  and 
no  compulsion  is  to  be  applied  to  employers  who  consider  collective 
wage  agreements  injurious  to  their  establishments  or  industry. — 
[Soziale  Praxis,  Aug.  22,  1918 ;  Monthly  Labor  Eeview,  U.  S.  Dept. 
of  Labor,  November,  1918,  pp.  70,  71,  72.] 

Transition  Organization. 

An  imperial  commission  for  transition  from  a  state  of  war  to  a 
state  of  peace  was  organized  in  August,  1916.  An  advisory  council, 
now  numbering  398  members,  was  appointed  to  assist  the  commission 
in  financial,  commercial,  and  industrial  problems.  In  October,  1917^ 
Germany  created  an  imperial  ministry  for  national  economics. — 
[Italy  Today,  Vol.  1,  No.  5,  Nov.  5, 1918,  p.  7.] 

Offers  for  the  Sale  of  Army  Material. 

The  imperial  chancellor  has  announced  that  in  order  to  provide  for 
the  utilization  of  material  belonging  to  the  army  and  navy  and  im- 
perial authorities  to  be  set  free  at  demobilization,  a  utilization  office 
is  being  established.  Its  main  duties  will  be  to  take  over  all  available 
and  realizable  property  of  the  army  and  navy  and  imperial  authori- 
ties; to  establish  or  reform  as  far  as  may  be  necessary  all  existing 
organizations  for  the  realization  of  property;  to  distribute  in  ac- 
cordance with  a  fixed  scale  all  property  which  is  not  to  be  realized 
by  the  central  organizations;  to  determine  the  principles  which  are 
to  guide  the  fixing  of  prices  and  their  supervision;  and  to  exercise 
general  supervision  over  the  issuing  of  property  of  this  kind  belong- 
ing to  the  army,  navy,  or  imperial  authorities. — [Weser  Zeitung,  Nov. 
7, 1918.] 

Housing,  Grants  for. 

The  Bundesrat,  on  October  31, 1918,  prepared  the  regulations  gov- 
erning the  grants  towards  building  expenses  supplied  from  imperial 


GERMANY.  63 

funds  and  fixed  the  first  instalment  at  100,000,000  marks.  The  ac- 
ceptance of  this  proposal  by  the  Reichstag  is  a  matter  of  course. 
These  measures  hold  good  only  for  the  war  and  the  transition  period, 
as  long  as  there  is  no  encouragement  to  private  persons  to  build  and 
there  is  a  pressing  demand  for  housing.  The  Empire  provides  half 
the  grants ;  the  other  half  is  borne  in  common  by  the  Federal  States, 
the  communities,  and,  in  certain  circumstances,  by  the  employers. 
The  grants  will  only  be  made  to  districts  in  which  there  is  great  need 
for  moderate-sized  dwellings.  They  may  be  given  to  private  specu- 
lators direct,  provided  that  they  comply  with  certain  regulations  and 
accept  the  responsibility  of  seeing  that  the  plot  of  ground  for  a  period 
of  10  years  is  used  only  for  building  purposes ;  that  the  rent  with  all 
subsidiary  payments  is  fixed  with  the  approval  of  the  community; 
and  that  the  needs  of  large  families  and  of  the  families  of  ex-soldiers 
are  specially  to  be  considered. — [Soziale  Praxis,  Nov.  7,  1918.] 

Demobilization  Organization. 

A  supreme  imperial  office,  with  the  title  "Imperial  Office  for 
Economic  Demobilization,"  has  been  established,  and  the  imperial 
chancellor  has  nominated  a  State  commissary  for  demobilization  who 
will  issue  all  necessary  regulations  for  the  Empire  and  the  Federal 
States  in  order  to  maintain  economic  life  during  the  transition 
period.  The  imperial  office  for  economic  demobilization  will  take 
in  hand  all  matters  connected  with  demobilization,  get  into  touch 
with  all  central  provincial  and  local  authorities,  and  take  measures 
in  conjunction  with  them  or  will  act  independently.  The  State 
commissary  has  appointed  demobilization  commissaries  in  the 
States  and  Provinces.  These  will  form  district  and  local  commit- 
tees. The  duties  of  the  commissaries  and  committees  will  be  to 
maintain  the  economic  life,  and  to  find  employment  for  ex-soldiers 
and  discharged  munition  workers.  Farmers  and  manufacturers  are 
obliged  to  take  back  those  workers  who  were  in  their  employ  prior 
to  the  war  whenever  conditions  permit.  In  order  to  employ  as  much 
labor  as  possible,  working  hours  are  to  be  reduced  to  a  minimum 
of  six  hours  per  day.  In  weaving  mills  no  operative  is  to  be  em- 
ployed on  more  than  one  loom.  For  the  present,  raw  materials  will 
continue  to  be  controlled  by  the  existing  war  organizations,  but 
facilities  are  being  arranged.  A  living  wage  will  be  enforced. 
Where  absolutely  no  work  is  to  be  found  the  authorities  are  to 
furnish  emergency  work  for  which  the  Government  will  furnish 
the  money. — [Deutsche  AUgemeine  Zeitung,  Nov.  14,  1918;  Kol- 
nische  Zeitung,  Nov.  16, 1918.] 

No  Confiscation  or  Repudiation. 

The  National  Government  has  issued  a  proclamation  declaring 
that  it  does  not  propose  to  confiscate  bank  and  savings-bank  deposits 


64  FOREIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

or  stocks  of  money,  whether  cash,  bank  notes,  or  securities  of  any 
description;  that  it  does  not  intend  to  declare  subscriptions  to  the 
ninth  or  to  any  of  the  war  loans  to  be  invalid,  nor  to  interfere  with 
their  legal  validity.  Provisions  for  allowances,  pensions,  and  other 
legal  claims  of  official  employees,  officers,  and  soldiers,  the  war 
disabled,  and  widows  and  orphans  of  these  persons  will  remain  in 
force  without  any  modification.  A  similar  proclamation  has  been 
made  by  the  Bavarian  Government. — [Deutsche  AUgemeine  Zei- 
tung,  Nov.  13, 1918;  Kolnische  Zeitung,  Nov.  16,  1918.] 
Solution  of  Housing  Problem  in  Bavaria  and  Baden. 

The  town  of  Ludwigshafen  has  acquired  250,000  square  meters  of 
land  adjacent  to  the  200,000  square  meters  presented  by  a  large  manu- 
facturer, and  proposes  to  divide  it  into  some  400  building  plots  for 
the  benefit  of  returning  soldiers.  The  town  of  Ingolstadt  contem- 
plates leasing  certain  town  property  for  the  same  purpose.  Fre- 
quently, the  method  adopted  by  the  municipality  has  been  that  of 
facilitating  the  work  of  building  societies  by  the  provision  of  cheap 
capital  and  suitable  land,  and  the  introduction  of  efficient  building 
regulations.  The  founding  of  a  Bavarian  building  bank  is  also  con- 
templated.— [Kommunale  Praxis,  Nov.  16,  1918.] 
Foreign  Trade,  Measures  for  Extension  of. 

Steps  have  been  taken  to  promote  foreign  trade  by  private  asso- 
ciations, exhibitions  abroad,  and  educational  activities;  and  to  cre- 
ate a  foreign  bureau  (auslandsamt)  to  deal  with  foreign  questions  ' 
other  than  political. — [Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce, 
Nov.  19,  1918,  p.  675.] 

Gradual  Demobilization  of  the  Army. 

A  demobilization  army  order  has  been  issued  providing  as  fol- 
lows: 

As  demobilization  can  not  be  carried  out  all  at  once,  and  in  the 
interests  of  railway  traffic,  discharges  will  take  place  by  instalments. 

Such  duties  as  preserving  public  security  and  order,  and  guarding 
prisoners  and  the  frontiers,  must  be  maintained ;  likewise,  the  carry- 
ing out  of  the  demobilization  program  must  be  guaranteed. 

Men  necessary  for  these  duties,  otherwise  entitled  to  release,  will 
be  retained  for  this  service  at  the  discretion  of  their  respective  unit 
commanders. 

Inactive  officers  and  those  of  the  reserve  of  military  age  are  to  be 
released  on  similar  lines,  older  categories  in  accordance  with  their 
own  personal  wishes. 

Officers,  noncommissioned  officers,  and  men  who  belong  to  Alsace- 
Lorraine  and  do  not  wish  to  remain  in  the  service  are  to  be  released 
as  quickly  as  transport  means  permit. — [Kolnische  Zeitung,  Nov.  21, 
1918.] 


GBBMANY.  65 

Social  Measures  of  the  New  Il6gime. 

On  November  12  the  people's  council  published  a  proclamation  as- 
serting that  the  Government,  which  has  emerged  from  the  revolution 
and  which  in  its  political  tendency  is  purely  socialistic,  has  set  itself 
the  task  of  realizing  the  socialistic  program.  The  following  measures 
among  others  have  been  given  the  force  of  laws :  The  abolition  of  the 
state  of  siege,  the  removal  of  the  censorship,  the  liberty  of  expres- 
sions of  opinions  in  speech  and  writing  and  in  the  practice  of  re- 
ligion, and  amnesty  for  political  offenses. — [Soziale  Praxis,  Nov.  21, 
1918.]  . 
Demobilization  Insurance. 

In  order  to  facilitate  the  return  of  soldiers  from  the  western  front, 
blockage  zones  have  been  established,  especially  at  the  Rhine  cross- 
ings, so  that  the  soldiers  may  be  allotted  to  their  own  units  and  their 
arms  may  be  collected.  Each  private  soldier  and  noncommissioned 
officer,  as  soon  as  he  leaves  his  reserve  battalion,  is  to  receive  gratis  a 
suit  of  clothes,  the  sum  of  50  marks  discharge  money,  and,  in  most 
cases,  a  further  sum-  of  15  marks  marching  money. — [Soziale  Praxis, 
Nov.  21,  1918.] 
Housing  in  Garden  Villages  and  in  Small  Holdings. 

The  partly  State-assisted  policy  of  settlements  has  made  consider- 
able progress  lately ;  and  in  the  country  not  only  have  sites  been  pro- 
cured for  small  farmers,  rural  artisans,  and  agricultural  laborers,  but 
also  properties  have  been  acquired  in  the  vicinity  of  towns  which  are 
adapted  to  vegetable  and  fruit  growing  on  a  small  scale.  Thus,  in- 
dustrial workers  can  be  housed  in  semirural  surroundings  at  no  great 
distance  from  manufacturing  towns. — [Deutsche  Allgemeine  Zeitung, 
Nov.  24, 1918.] 
Demobilization. 

The  demobilization  now  in  progress  is  in  the  main  proceeding 
smoothly,  though  in  a  few  isolated  cases  the  soldiers'  and  workmen's 
councils  have  interfered  with  the  execution  of  the  prearranged 
schemes.  Prisoners  of  war  are  being  repatriated  via  Holland,  Switz- 
erland, and  the  Balkan  ports.  Soldiers  from  the  Rhine  country,  with 
certain  exceptions,  are  being  released  on  the  homeward  march.  Offi- 
cers and  men  on  leave  in  their  homes  or  previous  places  of  work  were 
able  to  obtain  certificates  of  discharge  at  the  local  military  offices  un- 
til November  30.  Those  who  desire  to  remain  in  the  army  will  be 
permitted  to  do  so.  In  order  that  the  economic  position  of  the  men, 
whose  continued  service  with  the  forces  is  at  present  regarded  as  in- 
dispensable, shall  not  fall  too  short  of  that  reached  by  the  men  dis- 
charged it  has  been  decided  to  improve  their  pay.  The  following 
regulations  have  been  laid  down : 

1.  Labor  battalions  are  to  be  dismissed,  or,  if  retained,  are  to  be 
regarded  as  civilians. 
115488—19 5 


66'  FOREIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

2.  Soldiers  who  are  temporarily  employed  on  work  usually  in- 

trusted to  civilians  are  to  receive  50  pfennigs  per  hour  addi- 
tional pay. 

3.  Men  who  volunteer,  after  their  dismissal,  for  special  service  with 

10  days'  notice  are  to  be  paid  30  marks  monthly,  together  with 
a  daily  sum  of  5  marks  for  leaders  and  3  marks  for  men. 

4.  Pay  will  vary  according  to  whether  the  troops  are  in  barracks  or 

not,  but  all  will  receive  30  marks  monthly. 

The  demobilization  office  has  issued  a  decree  to  the  effect  that  every 
member  of  the  army  or  navy  must  undergo  a  medical  exartiination 
before  dismissal,  in  order  to  prevent  the  spread  of  disease.  No  man 
can  be  billeted  as  a  private  citizen  without  showing  a  health  certifi- 
cate.—[Soziale  Praxis,  Nov.  28,  1918.] 
Demobilization,  Order  of  Dismissal. 

The  immediate  release  of  the  officials  of  the  great  economic  organ- 
izations of  employers  and  workers  has  already  begun,  as  well  as  of 
labor-exchange  officials  and  all  school  teachers.  Dismissals  are  tak- 
ing place  on  the  following  lines:  1.  Men  belonging  to  the  trans- 
port industry,  including  postal  organizations;  2,  miners  and  pro- 
ducers of  raw  materials ;  that  is,  of  coal,  stone,  metals,  wood,  building 
materials,  leather,  fibre,  and  foodstuffs;  3,  men  employed  in  gas, 
electricity,  waterworks;  the  remainder  on  military  principles.-^ 
[Soziale  Praxis,  Nov.  28,  1918.] 

Housing,  Building  Material  to  be  Used  for. 

In  order  to  devote  the  existing  building  material  to  those  purposes 
most  deserving  of  promotion  from  social  economic  consideration,  the 
Bavarian  building  authorities  have  decreed  that  building  contracts 
in  the  immediate  future  may  only  be  undertaken  for  dwelling  houses, 
agricultural  buildings,  and  business  and  industrial  erections,  as  far 
as  these  are  needed  to  provide  the  people  with  articles  in  daily  use : 
For  other  building  projects  the  consent  of  the  demobilization  com- 
missioner is  necessary  before  approval  can  be  given. — [Deutsche  All- 
gemeine  Zeitung,  Nov.  28,  1918.] 

"Unemployment  Relief. 

An  order  issued  by  the  imperial  office  for  economic  demobilization 
requires  an  extensive  measure  of  cooperation  with  the  communes  on 
the  part  of  the  trade-unions.  The  communes  are  obliged  to  grant 
relief  to  all  unemployed  persons  who  have  their  domicile  within  the 
communal  district,  so  far  as  these  persons  can  not  be  found  suit- 
able employment  under  conditions  reasonable  and  noninjurious  to 
health.  The  relief  must  be  sufficient  in  amount,  and  for  the  indi- 
vidual unemployed  person  must  be  equal  in  amount  to  the  local 
wage  as  fixed  by  imperial  insurance  order.  Suitable  additional  pay- 
ments must  be  made  to  married  persons  and  members  of  families. 


GERMANY.  67 

The  conununes  will  be  repaid  six-twelfths  of  their  total  outlay  on 
unemployment  relief  from  the  imperial  exchequer  and  four-twelfths 
from  the  Federal  State  concerned.  Existing  unemployment  arrange- 
ments which  may  benefit  the  unemployed  more  than  those  contem- 
plated by  the  new  order  are  to  be  maintained. — [Correspondenzblatt 
der  Gewerkschaften  Deutschlands,  Nov.  30,  1918.] 

Debts  of  ex-Soldiers,  Period  of  Grace. 

While  a  law  of  August  4,  1914,  which  exempts  soldiers  from  the 
payment  of  their  debts  no  longer  applies  when  they  are  discharged, 
an  act  of  June  8, 1916,  provides  that  they  shall  have  time  to  regulate 
their  economic  position  and  satisfy  the  demands  of  their  creditors 
by  degrees.  A  period  of  grace  wiil  be  granted  on  application  to  the 
courts  where  immediate  payment  would  result  in  hardship  to  the 
debtor. — [Deutsche  Allgemeine  Zeitung,  Nov.  30,  1918.] 

Demobilization. 

According  to  a  German  wireless  of  November  18,  1918,  a  decree 
of  the  war  ministry  orders  the  demobilization  of  soldiers  in  the 
Fatherland  consistent  with  the  traffic  possibilities  and  industrial  life. 
The  classes  up  to  those  born  in  1879  will  be  first  released,  as  well  as 
all  Alsace-Lorrainians  who  are  not  serving  voluntarily,  and  people 
from  the  evacuated  regions  of  the  left  bank  of  the  Rhine  and  of  the 
Bridgeheads,  in  so  far  as  they  do  not  belong  to  the  1898  and  1899 
classes. — [Daily  review  of  the  foreign  press  (British  war  office), 
Reconstruction  Supplement,  Dec.  4,  1918,  p.  54.] 

Resettlement  of  Demobilized  Men. 

The  field  marshal  has  issued  a  proclamation  to  the  returning  sol- 
diers to  the  effect  that  everything  is  being  done  to  provide  them  with 
homesteads.  Hundreds  of  thousands  of  cottages  are  being  built  for 
farmers,  gardeners,  and  rural  artisans  at  the  public  expense,  and 
houses  are  being  erected  in  garden  cities  and  garden  suburbs  for 
those  who  are  employed  in  towns,  only  a  moderate  rate  of  interest 
on  the  initial  cost  being  required.  The  soldiers  are  urged  to  devote 
their  energies  to  becoming  owners  of  this  property.  The  proclama- 
tion has  been  followed  by  two  appeals  issued  by  the  minister  of  labor 
to  agricultural  and  town  workers  in  the  army,  respectively.  The 
former  are  exhorted  to  return  to  the  land,  where  they  may  easily  find 
employment  on  account  of  the  withdrawal  of  prison  labor  and  losses 
occasioned  by  the  war.  Besides  the  prospect  of  eventually  becoming 
independent,  the  attraction  of  improved  conditions  is  beins:  held  out. 
The  old  laws  against  agricultural  laborers  have  been  withdrawn  and 
they  have  gained  the  right  to  combine ;  so  that  wages  and  conditions 
of  work  may  be  settled,  and  collective  bargaining  by  the  landowners 
and  workers  progresses.  The  appeal  to  the  town  workers  also  urges 
everyone  able  to  do  so  to  get  back  to  the  land;  the  advantages  of 


68  FOREIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

such  employment  and  the  better  prospects,  as  compared  with  indus- 
trial work,  are  emphasized,  and  directions  are  given  as  to  the  best 
procedure  for  finding  agricultural  work. — [Soziale  Praxis,  Dec.  5, 
1918.] 

Agricultural  Program. 

The  national  committee  for  agriculture,  which  has  gained  the  sup- 
port of  all  the  farmers'  organizations  and  laborers'  unions,  has 
arranged  the  following  program: 

A  farmers'  and  laborers'  council  is  to  be  elected  in  every  inde- 
pendent commune.  Each  council  is  to  consist  of  at  least  six  members, 
half  of  whom  are  independent  farmers  and  the  other  half  laborers 
who  own  no  land.  In  each  administrative  area  a  district  farmers' 
and  laborers'  council  is  to  be  formed,  and  a  central  council,  with 
offices  in  Berlin,  will  issue  orders  and  instructions  to  the  district 
councils. 

The  duties  of  these  councils  will  be  to  support  the  authorities  in 
the  following  ways : 

1.  By  cooperation  in  the  control  and  care  of  existing  stores  of 
food,  in  the  management  of  its  delivery  to  those  entitled  to  it,  and 
in  combating  illicit  trade. 

2.  By  maintaining  agricultural  industries ;  by  promoting  produc- . 
tion,  especially  in  the  direction  of  securing  seed  and  adopting  more 
intensive  methods  of  cultivation;  by  resumption  of  cattle  breeding; 
and  the  encouragement  of  cooperation. 

3.  By  cooperation  in  the  reinstatement  of  discharged  soldiers  and 
in  the  provision  of  work  and  housing  for  the  latter,  in  accordance 
with  the  decisions  of  the  demobilizing  authorities. 

4.  By  mutual  aid  in  the  protection  of  persons  and  property. — 
[Soziale  Praxis,  Dec.  5,  1918.] 

Collective  Agreements  Between  Employers  and  Employees. 

An  agreement  entered  into  by  the  general  commission  of  the  trade- 
unions  with  the  most  influential  employers'  organizations,  on  Novem- 
ber 15,  has  introduced  collective  agreements  between  associations  of 
workmen  and  employees  in  industries  where  attempts  in  such  a  direc- 
tion have  long  been  in  vain.  Several  of  the  industrial  employers' 
associations  have  informed  the  unions'  directorate  of  their  willing- 
ness to  discuss  the  reengagement  of  discharged  soldiers,  and  negotia- 
tions will  be  commenced  whenever  traffic  conditions  permit.  The 
miners'  unions  have  had  negotiations  with  the  Westphalian  Mine 
Owners'  Association,  with  the  result  that  the  latter  recognizes  the 
trade-unions  as  the  legal  representatives  of  the  miners.  The  eight-hour 
day,  inclusive  of  entry  and  exit;  fixed  minimum  wages;  a  general 
rise  in  wages  of  25  to  50  per  cent ;  extra  pay  for  overtime  and  Sunday 
work;  the  abolishment  of  female  labor  as  soon  as  possible,  and  of 


GERMANY.  69 

lockout  agreements  by  the  different  mines ;  and  the  institution  of  the 
labor  bureau  of  the  mine  owners'  association  on  a  footing  of  equal 
representation,  are  the  chief  concessions  of  the  employers.  Further 
points  are  still  under  discussion. — [Correspondenzblatt  der  Gewerk- 
schaften  Deutschlands,  Dec.  7,  1918.] 
Socialization  of  Industry. 

A  statement  has  been  issued  by  the  commission  on  socialization, 
according  to  which  it  regards  as  its  task  the  preparation  of  measures 
for  placing  the  means  of  production  at  the  disposal  of  the  public.  It 
is  aware  that  this  process  must  be  gradual,  and  that  the  revival  of 
production  is  the  first  essential  for  economic  reorganization,  and  that 
the  economic  situation  of  Germany  imperatively  demands  the  re- 
sumption of  the  export  industry  and  of  foreign  trade'.  For  this  pur- 
pose the  existing  organization  must  for  the  present  be  retained; 
similarly,  the  reinstating  of  industry  requires  the  retention  and 
extension  of  the  credit  system,  and,  therefore,  the  unimpeded  func- 
tioning of  the  credit  banks.  It  is  not  proposed  to  interfere  with  the 
existing  conditions  as  regards  property  and  methods  of  cultivation  of 
the  peasant  population ;  but  it  is  hoped  to  raise  the  level  of  produc- 
tion and  intensive  cultivation  by  suitable  agricultural  measures,  and 
by  the  support  of  cooperative  societies.  On  the  other  hand,  the  com- 
mission is  of  the  opinion  that  those  branches  of  national  economics 
which  practically  became  private  capitalistic  monopolies  should 
first  come  into  consideration  for  socialization.  The  most  important 
raw  products,  such  as  coal  and  iron,  must  especially  be  at  the  dis- 
posal of  the  public.  Investigations  will  be  made  as  to  what  other 
departments  of  production  and  sources  of  power  are  adapted  for 
transference  to  public  administration;  and  what  other  branches  of 
economies,  such  as  the  insurance  system  and  the  mortgage  banks,  are 
fitted  for  socialization.  The  commission  is  aware  that  the  success  of 
socialization  is  dependent  on  increased  production,  which  must  be 
obtained  by  the  best  factory  organization  and  the  elimination  of  all 
unnecessary  costs  under  the  guidance  of  experienced  technicians  and 
merchants.  It  will  be  guided  by  the  same  principles,  under  the  name 
of  agriculture,  in  the  administration  of  the  State  lands  and  forests. — 
[Deutsche  Allgemeine  Zeitung,  Dec.  11,  1918.] 
Use  of  Commandeered  Metal. 

The  imperial  demobilization  department  has  issued  an  order  re- 
garding the  use  of  metals  supplies  for  war  purposes  which,  in  the 
future,  are  to  be  used  for  peace  economy.  For  all  the  stocks  of  metal 
in  the  hands  of  the  metal-using  industries  that  were  supplied  to  them 
for  war  purposes  at  preferential  prices,  the  industries  are  now 
obliged  to  pay  to  the  war-metal  corporation,  in  favor  of  the  imperial 
treasury,  the  difference  between  the  preferential  prices  at  which  they 


70  FOEEIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

obtained  the  metal  and  the  mean  average  market  prices. — [Deutsche 
Allgemeine  Zeitung,  Dec.  11,  1918.] 

Dismissal  of  Disabled  Employees. 

The  war  office  has  issued  an  order  to  factories  engaged  on  army- 
work  forbidding  the  dismissal  of  disabled  employees,  unless  other  jobs 
have  been  provided  for  them.  The  ministry  of  labor  has  issued  a 
similar  orider  throughout  Prussia. — [Kolnische  Zeitung,  Dec.  12, 
1918.] 

Textile-Trade  Restrictions. 

It  is  reported  that  the  Government  intends  to  forbid  for  a  certain 
period  of  time  the  production  of  an  increasing  quantity  of  cotton, 
woolen,  and  linen  goods.  Substitutes  are  to  be  used  in  their  manu- 
facture for  the  present.  The  Government  control  has  for  its  aim  the 
impartial  distribution  of  raw  materials  to  the  different  firms  with  a 
view  to  supplying  work  for  returning  soldiers,  and  intends  to  retain 
this  control  until  the  conclusion  of  peace  assures  such  supplies. 
While  it  retains  this  control,  it  has  made  a  concession  by  which  it 
intrusts  to  the  Central  Woolen  Trade  Company  the  distribution  of 
the  stocks  held  by  war  office  raw -material  and  woolen-supply  depart- 
ments.— [Konfectionar,  Dec.  12,  1918.] 

Settlement  Plans  for  Discharged  Soldiers. 

The  president  of  the  scientific  commission  of  the  war  office  has 
formulated  a  proposal  for  comprehensive  settlement  plans  which  will 
soon  become  law.  The  bill  aims,  first,  to  provide  agricultural  laborers 
with  land  on  lease,  which  can  be  taken  over  by  the  municipalities  in 
case  of  necessity ;  and,  second,  to  promote  agricultural  colonization  in 
the  place  of  large,  landed  properties.  The  latter  point  touches  princi- 
pally the  Crown  lands  which  can  be  offered  to  public-utility  settle- 
ment companies  at  prewar  rates. — [Soziale  Praxis,  Dec.  12,  1918.] 
Housing,  State  Funds  for. 

The  Government  has  intimated  to  the  municipal  representatives  of 
Greater  Berlin  that  58,000,000  marks  would  shortly  be  placed  at  their 
disposal  for  building  expenses.  The  housing  committee,  created  on 
November  7,  has  formed  a  subcommittee  of  six  to  have  the  control  of 
the  money  given  over  by  the  State  and  to  set  the  work  in  motion  with 
the  least  possible  delay,  beginning  with  the  large  undertakings.  Small 
dwellings  are  also  to  come  under  this  committee.  The  housing  com- 
mittee will  proceed  at  once  with  the  foundation  of  a  recently  pro- 
posed Greater  Berlin  settlement  bank. — [Soziale  Praxis,  Dec.  12, 
1918.] 
Transition  Economy. 

Great  numbers  of  Dutch  workmen  who  were  discharged  by  Krupps 
are  reported  to  have  been  reengaged.  The  Krupps  are  busy  con- 
structing railway  material,  especially  trucks,  and  in  preparing  for  an 


GERMANY.  71 

extensive  commercial  campaign  to  be  initiated  after  peace  is  signed. — 
[Commercial  Reports,   U.   S.   Dept.   of  Commerce,  Dec.   13,   1918, 
p.  1006.] 
Economic  Effects  of  the  Loss  of  Alsace-Lorraine. 

A  discussion  by  the  financial  editor  of  the  Berlin  Tageblatt,  Oc- 
tober 19,  1918,  points  out  that  Alsace-Lorraine  is  one  of  the  most 
highly-developed  manufacturing  sections  of  Germany,  and  one  of 
the  chief  sources  of  raw  materials,  the  latter  being  petroleum,  potash, 
and  iron-ore  deposits. — [Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Com- 
merce, Dec.  13,  1918,  p.  993.] 

Use  of  Inland  and  Maritime  Waterways. 

The  demobilization  department  has  requested  the  board  of  trade  to 
assist  in  relieving  the  railway  traffic  by  the  use  of  shipping,  as  there 
is  an  ample  amount  of  shipping  tonnage  available.  The  department 
urges  that  the  inland  waterways  and  maritime  waters  should  be  more 
extensively  used. — [Kolnische  Zeitung,  Dec.  13,  1918.] 
Regulation  of  Working  Hours. 

The  imperial  office  of  economic  demobilization  has  issued  an  edict 
dated  November  23,  1918,  which  regulates  the  carrying  out  of  the 
eight-hour  working  day.  The  regulation  applies  to  all  workers  in 
industrial  undertakings,  including  men  workers  in  the  service  of  the 
Empire,  the  Federal  States,  and  communes  and  communal  associa- 
tions, even  when  such  concerns  are  not  carried  on  with  a  view  to 
making  a  profit ;  and  to  subsidiary  agriculture  undertakings  of  an  in- 
dustrial nature.  The  regular  daily  working  hours,  exclusive  of 
pauses,  may  not  exceed  eight.  If  this  rule  is  departed  from  by 
agreement,  so  that  the  working  hours  are  curtailed  on  the  evenings 
preceding  Sundays  and  holidays,  the  time  thus  lost  may  be  made  up 
on  other  working  days.  In  case  of  general  exceptions  to  the  fore- 
going rules  made  necessary  in  industries  connected  with  communica- 
tions, including  the  railways,  post,  and  telegraph  service,  and  called 
for  by  the  conditions  of  the  time,  agreements  must  be  arrived  at  be- 
tween those  responsible  for  the  undertakings  and  the  workmen's  asso- 
ciations. Heavy  penalties  are  provided  for  violations  of  the  rules 
prescribed  in  the  edict. — [Correspondenzblatt  der  Gewerkshaften, 
Dec.  14,  1918.] 
State  Lands  and  Money  for  Dwelling  Purposes,  Grants  of. 

In  Berlin  a  conference  took  place  of  representatives  of  the  build- 
ing, finance,  and  labor  ministers,  the  State  housing  commissioner, 
and  the  provincial  authorities,  with  the  object  of  providing  without 
delay  State  lands  in  Greater  Berlin  on  which  to  erect  small  dwellings. 
The  chairman  explained  that  the  new  Government,  in  furnishing  the 
land  necessary  for  this  purpose,  looked  more  to  social  than  fiscal 
ends.    It  was  arranged  at  the  conference  that  the  housing  association 


72  FOEEIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

of  Greater  Berlin  should  immediately  get  into  touch  with  all  the 

bodies  concerned  and  nominate  a  representative  whose  duty  it  would 

be  to  arrange  as  to  the  extent  of  building  land  required,  the  style  of 

buildings,  and  the  price  of  land,  etc. — [Kolnische  Zeitung,  Dec.  14, 

1918.] 

The  Leather  Trade,  Control  of. 

The  control  of  the  leather  trade  has  been  placed  in  the  hands  of  the 
board  of  demobilization  for  the  transition  period.  A  new  central 
committee  is  to  be  formed  to  superintend  the  working  of  the  organi- 
zation. Subcommittees  will  conduct  the  distribution  of  raw  material 
and  finished  goods.  The  supplies  released  by  the  army  will  go  to  the 
various  distributing  centers.  A  special  reserve  for  the  supply  of 
returning  soldiers  is  being  accumulated. — [Kolnische  Zeitung,  Dec. 
16,  1918.] 

Standardization  of  Wages. 

The  State  labor  office  is  preparing  a  regulation  for  standardizing 
throughout  the  country  the  legal  force  of  wage  schedules,  the  system 
of  industrial  arbitration,  and  the  formation  of  employees'  commit- 
tees. Until  the  regulations  are  published  the  alteration  or  reelection 
of  employees'  committees  must  be  suspended  even  when  ordered  by 
workers'  and  soldiers'  councils,  in  so  far  as  the  latter  are  not  acting 
on  Government  instructions. — [Deutsche  Allgemeine  Zeitung,  Dec. 
18,  1918.] 
Contracts  Not  Affected  by  Revolution. 

The  change  in  the  political  situation  has  wrought  no  change  in 
business  obligations.  The  imperial  office  for  economic  demobiliza- 
tion and  the  council  of  people's  delegates  point  out  that  civil  law  is 
still  in  force,  so  long  as  it  has  not  been  abolished  by  the  order  of  the 
Government  or  by  the  competent  offices  of  that  body. — [Kolnische 
Zeitung,  Dec.  18,  1918.] 
Ministry  for  Foreign  Trade. 

Negotiations  are  being  conducted  between  the  foreign  office  and 
the  economic  office  with  regard  to  the  formation  of  a  new  depart- 
ment which  is  to  deal  with  foreign  trade.  The  idea  is  to  create  a 
bureau  of  information  to  which  all  Government  bodies  and  private 
business  people  could  apply  in  regard  to  all  questions  relating  to 
the  import  and  export  trade.  In  the  new  department  these  sections 
of  the  foreign  office  and  economic  office,  which  have  hitherto  been 
dealing  with  foreign  trade,  are  to  be  united.  A  journal  (Commer- 
cial, Industrial,  and  Agricultural  News)  is  to  be  issued.  The  late 
German  consul  general  in  New  York  has  been  appointed  to  organize 
this  new  department  on  behalf  of  the  foreign  office  in  conjunction 
with  a  commissary  delegated  from  the  economic  office. — [Der  Wel- 
thandel,  Dec.  20, 1918.] 


GERMANY.  73 

Agricultural  Work  for  Discharged  Soldiers. 

The  secretary  for  the  imperial  ministry  of  labor  has  issued  two 
proclamations — one  urging  industrial  workmen  to  leave  towns  and 
overcrowded  centers  and  lend  assistance  in  the  work  of  establishing 
the  agricultural  settlements;  the  other  to  soldiers  returning  home, 
warning  them  to  avoid  industrial  centers  and  advising  them  to  go  on 
the  land,  where  they  have  prospects  of  independence  on  small  hold- 
ings. The  appeal  to  returning  soldiers  stresses  the  improved  status 
of  agricultural  workers,  which  results  from  the  repeal  of  the  clause 
refusing  the  right  of  combination  to  that  class  of  workers.  An  act  is 
stated  to  be  under  consideration  which  will  compel  municipalities 
to  provide  the  land  needed  for  houses  and  gardens. — [Correspondenz- 
blatt,  Dec.  21,  1918.] 
Municipal  TTnemployment  Relief. 

The  imperial  demobilization  directorate  compels  all  municipalities 
to  institute  unemployment  relief,  which  is  to  have  a  legal  basis  dif- 
ferent from  that  of  relief  for  the  poor  and  for  which  the  directorate 
lays  down  certain  prescribed  rules.— [Kommunale  Praxis,  Dec.  21, 
1918.] 
Replacement  of  Temporary  Employees  by  Demobilized  Men. 

The  tariff  office  of  the  cooperative  association  has  adopted  the  fol- 
lowing plan  of  reinstating  soldiers  formerly  in  their  employ  by  re- 
placing the  following  temporary  employees : 

According  to  length  of  service — 

1.  Women  engaged  to  fill  men's  posts — 

a.  Wives  whose  husbands  are  in  a  situation. 
h.  Girls  and  women  who  have  no  one  to  support. 
G,  Girls  and  women  supporting  one  or  two  persons. 
d.  All  other  girls  and  women. 

2.  Male  assistants — 

a.  Bachelors,  with  no  dependents. 

J.  Childless  married  men,  and  bachelors  with  dependents. 

c.  All  of  the  men  engaged  during  the  war. 
[Correspondenzblatt,  Dec.  21,  1918.] 
Transition  Economy;  Rationing  of  Industries  to  Provide  Work. 

The  secretary  of  state  of  the  demobilization  office  has  stated  that 
his  first  aim  would  be  to  restore  the  men  discharged  from  the  muni- 
tion factories,  or  returning  from  the  front,  as  quickly  as  possible  to 
their  old  position.  The  shortage  of  coal  and  restriction  of  raw  ma- 
terials make  it  difficult  to  obtain  opportunities  for  work  in  industries. 
Great  economy  must  be  exercised  with  coal,  and  there  is  danger  that 
initiative  on  the  part  of  producers  may  be  checked.  Small,  medium- 
sized  concerns  should  be  subsidized  so  as  to  relieve  the  unemploy- 
ment. '  The  distribution  of  orders  will  be  regulated  by  a  new  associa- 


74  FOREIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

tion,  the  Arbeitsgemeinschaft,  consisting  of  a  joint  board  of  em- 
ployers and  unions,  which  latter  must  adapt  themselves  to  the 
changed  conditions.  Special  technical  organizations  will  see  that 
the  orders  are  advantageous  to  the  entire  capabilities  of  the  industry ; 
and  among  the  first  objects  of  attention  will  be  the  agricultural  in- 
dustry, the  congestion  of  traffic,  and  shipbuilding.  Efforts  should 
be  made  to  draw  the  masses  of  unemployed  hands  away  from  in- 
dustries and  large  towns,  in  order  that  they  may  work  in  coal  mines, 
on  the  land,  at  forestry,  or  be  engaged  on  emergency  schemes  which 
require  no  raw  material. — [Frankfurter  Zeitung,  Dec.  23, 1918.] 

Employment  of  Disabled  Soldiers. 

In  answer  to  a  demonstration  of  disabled  soldiers  at  the  war  office, 
Berlin,  the  secretary  of  the  ministry  of  labor  announced  that  an  order 
would  soon  be  passed  forbidding  the  discharge  from  factories  of  dis- 
abled soldiers,  as  well  as  the  deduction  of  pensions  from  wages  paid. 
At  the  same  time,  employers  will  be  compelled  to  employ  a  certain 
percentage  of  disabled  men.  It  was  also  promised  that  the  imperial 
union  of  disabled  soldiers  would  henceforth  have  voting  powers  in 
the  administration  of  relief  for  the  poor  and  an  improvement  was 
promised  in  the  regulations  for  war  pensions. — [Kolnische  Zeitung, 
Dec.  24, 1918.] 
Reinstatement  of  ex-Soldiers  in  the  Metal  Industry. 

An  agreement  has  been  arrived  at  in  the  Berlin  metal  industry  be- 
tween the  association  of  metal  works  owners  and  the  joint  league  of 
employees'. associations,  whereby  employees  discharged  from  the  mili- 
tary service  are,  as  a  general  rule,  to  be  received  back  by  the  same  firms 
by  which  they  were  employed  on  August  1,  1914,  or  since  that  time. 
Men  who  wish  to  leave  the  service  in  order  to  take  up  employment 
with  their  former  employers  are  given  a  period  of  14  days  in  which 
to  send  in  their  applications,  while  doubtful  or  disputed  cases  must 
be  referred  to  an  arbitration  court.  Discharges  which  may  become 
necessary  may  take  place  by  degrees  and  in  accordance  with  definite 
principles.-^ [Soziale  Praxis,  Dec.  26,  1918.] 
Labor  Bureau's  Peace  Conference  Plan. 

At  the  instance  of  the  peoples'  commissaries,  the  imperial  labor 
bureau,  with  the  cooperation  of  the  other  competent  offices  and  the 
organizations  of  employers,  employees,  and  social  reformers,  have 
drawn  up  a  program  of  social  policy.  This  program  is  based, 
in  the  main,  on  the  resolutions  of  the  Laborers'  Congress  held 
at  Leeds  in  July,  1916,  and  on  those  of  the  Berne  Conference 
of  October,  1917.  In  addition,  the  German  program  contains  a 
proposal  for  an  eight-hour  day,  which  has  become  a  law.  The  new 
German  Peoples'  State  proclaims  its  firm  alliance  with  working  men 
and  women  throughout  the  world  with  regard  to  social  policy,  the 


GERMANY.  75 

right  of  labor,  social  insurance,  and  workmen's  protection.  The  main 
features  of  the  program  relate  to  domiciliary  liberty,  right  to  com- 
bine, labor  conditions,  labor  agencies,  labor  market  statistics,  social 
insurance,  protection  of  workers,  working  hours,  hours  of  rest,  home 
work,  labor  inspection,  and  international  agreements. — [Soziale 
Praxis,  Dec.  26,  1918.] 

Resumption  of  Activities. 

Unemployment  is  increasing  in  many  large  towns  and  industrial 
districts  of  Germany,  although,  judging  by  the  advertisements  in  the 
papers,  manufacturers  are  showing  feverish  activity  in  accepting  new 
contracts  and  in  taking  advantage  of  new  inventions  and  jiew  proc- 
esses of  production.  The  majority  of  the  workers  are  beginning  to 
realize  that  unreasonable  wage  demands  are  not  adapted  to  facilitate 
recourse  to  new  tasks  and  new  methods. — [Soziale  Praxis,  Dec.  26, 
1918.] 

Labor  Shortage  in  Certain  Occupations. 

The  union  of  employers'  and  employees'  associations  has  issued  an 
appeal,  stating  that  industrial  and  agricultural  districts  are  con- 
fronted by  a  shortage  of  labor  caused  by  overcrowding  in  larger 
cities.  The  mines  are  undermanned,  the  coal  famine  has  become  in- 
tense, and  factories  are  forced  to  close  down.  There  is  a  lack  of  fuel, 
warm  clothing,  and  housing  accommodations.  There  is  a  shortage 
of  labor  in  the  iron  and  steel  industry.  Without  agricultural  ma- 
chinery there  can  be  no  harvest,  and  consequently  no  food.  In  many 
places  there  is  a  shortage  of  labor  in  the  transport  industry.  Agri- 
culture and  forestry  lack  men.  Potatoes  are  still  in  the  ground  and 
threaten  to  rot ;  there  is  no  one  to  look  after  the  cattle ;  grain  remains 
unthrashed.  Trees  have  not  been  felled ;  and  there  is  a  lack  of  timber 
for  building,  fuel,  and  mine  props.  The  adjustment  of  the  forces  of 
labor  is  the  necessity  of  the  hour.  Men  out  of  employment  must  ask 
for  it  in  agriculture  and  forestry.  The  appeal  requires  all  men  out  of 
employment  to  apply  at  once  to  the  labor  bureaus  and  ask  advice  of 
the  demobilization  committees.  The  railway  fares  of  all  who  change 
their  place  of  employment  will  be  defrayed  from  public  funds. 
[Kolnische  Zeitung,  Dec.  29,  1918.] 

"Unemployment. 

The  steadily  increasing  number  of  unemployed  men  in  Coblenz  and 
other  towns  in  the  occupied  area  is  causing  American  officers  con- 
siderable anxiety.  Many  of  the  idle  men  are  discharged  German 
soldiers.  Those  who  can  not  obtain  work  are  entitled  to  daily  boun- 
ties of  3  marks,  60  pfennig  from  the  city.  To  unemployed  laborers 
work  has  been  offered  by  the  city  at  4  marks  per  day ;  but  only  a  few 
have  accepted,  as  the  ordinary  wage  is  6  marks  a  day.  Efforts  are 
being  made  to  restore  discharged  soldiers  to  their  prewar  occupa- 


76  FOREIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

tions,  replacing,  if  necessary,  women  now  holding  the  positions. 
There  is  plenty  of  work  in  the  country,  but  officials  have  found  diffi- 
culty in  inducing  laborers  to  leave  the  cities,  particularly  in  a  time 
of  social  unrest  like  the  present.  [Times,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  31, 
1918.] 

Demobilization. 

On  October  29, 1918,  a  commission  for  the  demobilization  of  wage- 
workers  was  appointed  consisting  of  representatives  of  the  imperial 
authorities,  the  Federal  Government,  industry,  trade,  agriculture,  the 
salaried  classes,  and  the  labor  organizations.  This  commission  had 
appointed  a  committee  of  nine  members  who  in  consultation  with  the 
military  authorities,  the  communes,  and  the  most  important  trades 
were  to  make  the  requisite  preparations  as  speedily  as  possible. 
Plans  were  prepared  for  a  system  of  unemployment  relief  both  for 
wageworkers  and  salaried  employees.  Orders  for  public  works 
which  had  been  suspended  were  distributed  immediately  and  new 
works  started.  [Monthly  Labor  Eeview,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor, 
January,  1919,  pp.  74-76.] 

Foreign  Trade  Before  the  War. 

The  United  States  Bureau  of  Foreign  and  Domestic  Commerce  has 
issued  a  statistical  report  showing  the  prewar  German  trade  with 
each  country  by  articles  in  such  detail  that  the  goods  ordinarily  in 
demand  in  the  various  markets  can  be  conveniently  ascertained. — 
[Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Jan.  8,  1918,  p.  97.] 
Excessive  Demands  of  Industrial  Workers. 

Many  manufacturers  complain  that  the  excessive  demands  of  Ger- 
man workers  threaten  industrial  chaos.  Among  the  demands  are 
that  a  workers'  council  be  associated  with  the  employer  with  authority 
to  discriminate  concerning  the  dismissal  and  engagement  of  em- 
ployees and  the  control  of  the  profit-bearing  capacity  of  the  business ; 
a  supplement  to  wages  from  August  1,  1914;  the  establishment  of  a 
Christmas  box  amounting  to  a  full  month's  salary,  a  40-hour  week 
and  a  20  per  cent  increase  of  salary.  [Journal  of  Commerce,  New 
York,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  15,  1919.] 
Centralization  of  Imports. 

The  imperial  food  minister,  in  answer  to  numerous  requests  for  the 
abolition  of  the  central  purchasing  company  and  the  release  of  im- 
ports from  central  control,  has  announced  that  present  conditions  make 
the  maintenance  of  this  central  control  more  urgently  necessary  than 
ever.  Exports  from  neutral  States  are  still  prohibited ;  only  specific 
quotas  are  released  for  exports  and  all  exports  outside  such  quotas 
are  reckoned  upon  the  German  quota  as  soon  as  they  come  to  the 
knowledge  of  the  neutral  Government's  concern.  Under  a  system  of 
free  importation,  Germany  would  have  to  pay  intolerable  prices 


GERMANY.  77 

and  the  prices  on  the  home  markets  in  the  exporting  countries  would 
also  reach  heights  intolerable  for  the  population. — [Miinchener 
Nachrichten,  British  Board  of  Trade  Journal,  Jan.  16,  1919.] 

Reconstruction  of  World  Trade  Relations. 

A  limited  liability  company  has  been  formed  in  Germany  for  the 
purpose  of  reconstructing  the  world  trade  relations  of  German  in- 
dustrial undertakings,  and  to  reestablish  agencies  and  warehouses 
abroad.  [Frankfurter  Zeitung,  British  Board  of  Trade  Journal, 
Jan.  16,  1919,  p.  83.] 

Immigration  After  the  War. 

In  May,  1918,  there  was  started  in  Germany  the  "  reichsstelle  fiir 
deutsche  auswanderung  und  riickwanderung "  to  work  for  the  re- 
turn of  Germans  from  foreign  countries  and,  at  the  same  time,  to 
guard  and  replace  their  former  properties.  [Svensk  Handelstidning, 
Commerce  Eeports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Jan.  17,  1919,  p.  260.] 

Shipping  After  the  War. 

Germany's  merchant  fleet  has  been  reduced  by  more  than  50  per 
cent,  but  the  German  shippers  are  firmly  convinced  that  the  remain- 
ing 2,500,000  tons  of  cargo  space  is  sufficient  to  satisfy  Germany's 
requirements,  provided  they  are  subjected  to  no  unnecessary  restric- 
tions and  are  given  a  free  hand.  They  still  maintain  the  standpoint 
that  the  placing  of  cargo  space  in  the  unrestricted  hands  of  the  ship- 
ping firms  guarantees  that  it  will  be  used  in  the  best  possible  way  and 
that,  given  a  sound  economic  policy,  the  provision  of  cargo  space 
should  be  a  comparatively  easy  task  for  transition  economy. — [Ham- 
burgicher  Correspondent,  Jan.  22,  1919.] 
Finance. 

The  minister  of  finance  told  the  German  National  Assembly  that 
credits  of  $6,325,000,000  were  needed.  Of  this  amount  $75,000,000 
would  be  needed  for  building  houses.  Total  German  credits  and 
loans  now  aggregate  $35,000,000,000  not  including  $1,500,000,000  in 
treasury  notes.  Bank  bills  in  circulation  amount  to  $10,875,000,000. — 
[Wall  Street  Journal,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  15,  1919.] 
American  Plants  in  Germany. 

The  German  custodian  of  enemy  property  announces  that  American 
factories  in  Germany  are  intact  and  in  readiness  to  restart  operations 
as  soon  as  the  Peace  Treaty  is  signed.  The  American  factories  have 
been  operated  under  German  supervision  and  accounts  kept  of  the 
surplus  profits  which  will  be  available  to  the  owners  after  a  1  per 
cent  charge  for  bookkeeping  and  the  war  tax  have  been  deducted. — 
[Wall  Street  Journal,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  18, 1919.] 
Unemployment. 

There  are  1,000,000  unemployed  in  Germany,  one-fourth  of  whom 
are  in  Berlin.     Agriculture  needs  labor,  but  the  workingmen  of  the 


78  FOEEIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

cities  do  not  want  to  go  to  the  country  and  the  farmers  do  not  desire 
their  unskilled  help.  Unemployment  will  continue  and  will  increase 
in  Germany  until  raw  materials  are  furnished  in  sufficient  quantities 
to  permit  of  the  reopening  of  industrial  establishments. — [Berlingske 
Tidende,  Copenhagen,  Denmark,  Feb.  22,  1919.] 
Chambers  of  Labor  for  Socialization  of  Mining  Industry. 

On  February  8  the  National  Government  issued  a  decree  estab- 
lishing chambers  of  labor  for  the  mining  industry.  It  is  planned 
that  a  chamber  of  labor  shall  be  established  for  the  coal  mining 
industry  of  the  Kuhr  district,  and  also  for  that  of  Upper  Silesia. 
Similar  chambers  may  be  established  for  other  districts  and  other 
departments  of  the  mining  industry.  It  will  be  the  duty  of  the 
chambers  of  labor,  each  in  its  own  district,  to  collaborate  in  the 
preparation  of  measures  for  exercising  a  comprehensive  influence 
upon  mining  throughout  Germany,  and  for  securing  to  the  whole 
community  a  share  of  the  profits — i.  e.,  for  the  socialization  of 
mining.  With  this  object  the  chambers  of  labor  will  collect  in- 
formation, expert  opinions  and  suggestions,  and  will  take  steps  to 
secure  representation  on  all  associations  for  the  control  and  disposal 
of  the  products  of  the  mines.  The  chambers  of  labor  will  pay  due 
regard  to  the  collective  interests  of  the  industry,  as  well  as  to  the 
special  interests  of  employers  and  workpeople.  In  this  task  they 
will  have  the  advice  and  support  of  the  State  and  communal  authori- 
ties, and  their  cooperation  in  the  carrying  out  of  all  socio-political 
and  hygienic  measures.  The  number  of  members  in  a  chamber  of 
labor  will  be  at  least  20,  of  whom  10  shall  be  elected  by  the  em- 
ployers and  10  by  the  workpeople.  The  expenses  of  the  establish- 
ment and  working  of  the  chambers  of  labor  shall  in  the  first  instance 
fall  upon  the  communal  authorities  of  the  district  in  which  the 
works  represented  by  the  chambers  are  situated.  The  cost  will  then 
be  calculated  and  apportioned  equally  between  the  employers  and 
wageworkers  concerned. — [Deutscher  Reichsanzeiger,  Feb.  22,  1919; 
British  Labor  Gazette,  March,  1919,  p.  87.] 

Preparations  for  Reentering  World  Markets. 

German  business  circles  fully  realize  that  the  signing  of  peace  will 
only  mean  the  beginning  of  a  new  and  even  harder  commercial  war^ 
and  that  all  the  resources  of  business  will  be  required  to  put  industrial 
Germany  on  a  sound  defensive  basis.  The  German  press  announces 
several  large  measures  which  are  either  partly  carried  through  or 
projected,  and  which  involve  the  efforts  of  various  lines  of  trade  to 
bulwark  themselves  for  the  coming  struggle.  A  veritable  network  of 
organizations  is  growing  up,  which  may  be  divided  into  two  groups, 
those  which  are  commercial-scientific  and  those  which  are  purely 
commercial.     The  technical  fair  recently  planned  in  Leipzig  will 


GREECE.  79 

undertake  to  promote  the  trade  interests  of  manufacturers  of  ma- 
chinery, electrical  apparatus,  tools,  chemicals,  factory  equipment, 
railway  rolling-stock,  etc.  It  expects  to  develop  and  encourage  the 
German  inventive  genius  and,  through  a  suborganization  known  as 
the  broker's  bureau,  will  advertise  new  technical  ideas  and  attempt 
to  make  commercial  applications  of  all  kinds  of  technical  inventions. 
The  company  for  home  and  foreign  undertakings,  Hamburg,  is  plan- 
ning a  series  of  broad-scope  measures  for  the  revival  of  trade  and 
the  placing  of  German  goods.  The  Germans  believe  that  one  of  the 
requisites  for  increasing  commercial  relations  with  foreign  countries 
is  the  dissemination  of  information  concerning  business  opportuni- 
ties abroad  and  the  cultivation  of  a  broad  and  thorough  study  of  con- 
ditions in  foreign  markets.  Special  commissions  have  been  ordered 
organized  for  the  study  of  foreign  countries  and  to  collect  business 
and  political  information,  which  will  be  sent  out  publicly  by  an  infor- 
mation bureau. — [Commerce  Keports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Mar. 
17,  1919,  pp.  1265,  1266.] 
Commission  to  Stimulate  Industrial  Production. 

The  minister  of  finance  announced  on  May  7  the  creation  of  a 
national  commission  of  three  cabinet  members  to  stimulate  indus- 
trial production,  so  that  Germany  can  pay  for  foodstuffs  in  manu- 
factured articles  as  well  as  in  gold.  "There  are,"  the  minister  said, 
"  four  means  of  payment — gold,  foreign  securities,  credit,  and  manu- 
factures. It  is  impossible  for  Germany  to  reduce  further  her 
dwindling  gold  supply,  and  the  credit  of  the  country  has  been  weak- 
ened by  a  superfluity  of  paper  money.  Manufacturers,  therefore,  are 
the  only  remaining  source.  It  is  necessary  to  loosen  the  bonds  which 
hitherto  have  restricted  foreign  trade  in  such  a  way  that  neither  the 
local  consumers  nor  the  general  interests  are  damaged.  The  measure 
must  be  taken  with  great  speed.  The  commissioners  must  have  great 
power  so  as  to  break  down  technical  difficulties.  Germany  has  many 
things  it  can  export,  and  can  make  more." — [Times,  New  York, 
N.  Y.,  May  9,  1919.] 

GREECE. 

Reconstruction  Organization. 

The  Greek  minister  of  national  economy  is  inviting  several  heads 
of  industrial  affairs  to  deliberate  with  him  in  order  to  establish  an 
economic  policy  for  Greece  in  the  future.  The  subjects  under  discus- 
sion are  to  be :  1.  The  advantages  and  instruction  Greece  has  obtained 
from  the  war ;  2,  the  best  way  of  finding  fuel  for  the  factories,  includ- 
ing the  adaptation  of  the  boilers;  3,  the  encouragement  of  private 
initiative  by  the  State ;  4,  how  the  mechanical  industries  can  best  help 
industry  in  general,  and  how  best  to  furnish  raw  materials  to  the 


80  FOREIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

different  industries,  also  the  conditions  of  the  various  industries ;  5, 
food  conditions  and  munitions;  6,  how  to  strengthen  existing  indus- 
tries and  create  new  ones ;  7,  industrial  legislation  and  elementary  and 
secondary  technical  instruction.  Two  manufacturers  will  be  ap- 
pointed to  present  a  preliminary  report  on  each  subject. — [Messager 
d'Athenes,  June  5, 1918.] 
Nationalization  of  Mines.  » 

The  lignite  mines  at  Fiorina  are  to  become  State  property.  This 
is  the  first  step  toward  the  acquiring  by  the  State  of  all  mines  in 
Greece. — [Messager  d'Athenes,  Sept.  19,  1918.] 

HUNGARY. 

(See  also  Austria-Hungary.) 
Transition  Economy. 

The  Hungarian  minister  for  transition  economy  has  secured  the 
appointment  of  a  number  of  honorary  commissioners  for  transition 
economy  who  are  to  assist  his  department  as  advisers,  inquiring 
agents,  and  supervisors.  They  will  have  much  to  do  in  the  work  of 
demobilization,  when  they  can  act  as  civilian  advisers  to  the  return- 
ing soldiers  side  by  side  with  the  military  advisers.  Transition  econ- 
omy commissions  are  also  being  organized  and  their  work  will  be  co- 
ordinated with  that  of  the  commission  by  a  provincial  inspector  for 
transition  economy  to  be  appointed. — [Wirtschaftszeitung  der  Zen- 
tralmachte.  Mar.  15,  1918.] 
Transition  Organization. 

The  Hungarian  minister  of  trade  has  submitted  to  the  landesindus- 
trieamt  a  proposal  for  a  united  provincial  direction  of  Hungarian 
industry.  The  new  organization  is  to  insure  supplies  and  fair  dis- 
tribution of  raw  materials  after  the  war,  and  must  reorganize  many 
businesses,  concentrating  the  same,  insisting  on  specialization  for 
others,  and  observation  of  a  rigid  economy  in  all.  Besides  such  tech- 
nical questions,  the  organization  would  deal  with  all  workmen's  dis- 
putes, labor  agencies,  and  unemployment  relief,  and  arrange  matters 
between  employers  and  employees,  as  well  as  expert  agreements  be- 
tween foreign  countries  and  Hungary. — [Neue  Freie  Presse,  May  7, 
1918.] 
Agriculture  Reforms. 

In  Budapest  an  agricultural  council  has  been  formed,  among  its 
members  being  representatives  of  the  owners  of  moderate-sized  estates 
and  small  holdings.  This  body,  in  conjunction  with  the  national 
council,  will  supervise  agricultural  reforms.  Following  are  some  of 
the  projected  reforms  outlined  by  the  ministry  of  agriculture:  The 
first  measure  adopted  has  been  to  put  a  stop  to  the  commandeering 


HUNGARY.  81 

of  live-stock  fodder.  The  next  step  will  be  to  carry  out  a  reform  of 
landownership  which  will  give  the  land  to  the  great  masses  of  the 
people,  on  the  principle  that  land  belongs  to  the  man  who  tills  it.  It 
is  proposed  that  the  Government  should  acquire  at  a  reasonable  price 
the  greater  part  of  the  estates  of  the  communes,  churches,  and  finan- 
cial institutions,  parcel  them  out  into  small  holdings  as  far  as  possible 
equal  in  size,  and  hand  them  over  to  farmer  applicants,  on  the  under- 
standing that  amortization  shall  be  completed  within  50  years. 
Every  incumbrance  on  land  and  property  will  be  removed.  On  an 
average  each  small  holding  will  contain  about  14  acres.  The  council 
has  many  other  schemes  for  developing  agriculture  in  order  to  give 
work  and  wages  to  ex-soldiers,  and  so  ameliorate  the  conditions  of 
the  transition  to  peace  economy  agreement. 

By  the  establishment  of  chambers  of  agriculture  and  active  propa- 
ganda in  favor  of  increased  production,  it  will  soon  be  possible  to 
increase  the  yield  of  the  harvests.  These  chambers  will  be  organized 
on  a  thorough  democratic  basis,  each  individual  who  cultivates  at 
least  If  acres  of  land  being  compelled  to  be  a  member  of  the  chamber. 
Similar  organizations  will  be  combined  in  district  chambers  and 
these  again  in  a  national  chamber. — [Weltwirtschaftszeitung,  Nov. 
22,  1918.] 

Finance  Program. 

The  head  of  the  finance  ministry  of  Hungary  has  outlined  the  fol- 
lowing program :  To  establish  a  special  Government  committee  in  the 
finance  ministry  charged  with  the  care  of  the  finance  system  of  the 
village  communities.  Preparations  are  being  made  for  a  levy  on  capi- 
tal and  stern  measures  will  be  adopted  to  meet  any  possible  occasion 
for  evasion.  The  department  responsible  for  direct  taxation  has  been 
requested  to  work  out  a  scheme  for  adding  a  progressive  surtax  to 
existing  direct  taxes,  which  is  expected  to  yield  a  surplus  revenue  of 
500,000,000  krone.  A  similar  progressive  surtax  will  be  added  to  the 
inheritance  tax.  Small  incomes  and  capital  in  small  amounts  will  be 
left  free  of  taxation.  The  management  and  control  of  Government 
factories  and  industrial  undertakings  will  be  placed  in  the  hands  of 
workmen's  organizations,  and  an  agreement  has  already  been  arrived 
at  between  the  Government  and  the  iron  and  metal  workers'  trade 
union.  This  cooperation  with  the  trade-unions  will  leave  the  techni- 
cal and  commercial  management  of  the  works  undisturbed.  The 
finance  ministry  will  take  its  full  share  in  directing  the  Government 
policies  with  regard  to  landed  estates.  The  Government  is  in  com- 
munication with  the  central  credit  cooperative  societies  which,  with 
their  network  of  village  organizations,  are  best  suited  to  keep  in 
touch  with  agricultural  populations. 
115488—19 6 


82  FOREIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

The  first  few  days  of  its  existence  the  Hungarian  Peoples'  Govern- 
ment has  decided  to  close  all  the  war  central  offices,  in  order  to  per- 
mit the  return  of  unrestricted  trade. — [Weltwirtschaftszeitung,  Nov. 
22,  1918.] 
Water-Power  Development. 

The  Government  will  develop  a  uniform  system  of  waterworks  in 
the  form  of  a  monopoly,  and  will  sell  the  electric  power  to  industrial 
and  other  concerns.  After  the  conclusion  of  peace,  with  the  aid  of 
a  Government  loan,  it  is  hoped  to  erect  waterworks  developing  at 
least  one  million  horsepower,  which  would  suffice  to  cover  the  motive 
power  required  by  the  industrial  and  agricultural  concerns  of  the 
country.  It  is  expected  to  place  drainage  and  irrigation  under  the 
Government  management,  as  also  the  production  of  wine  and  fruit, 
which  might  become  one  of  Hungary's  main  sources  of  revenue. — 
[Weltwirtschaftszeitung,  Nov.  22, 1918.] 

Unemployment  Relief. 

At  a  session  of  the  industrial  demobilization  council,  recently  held 
in  the  ministry  of  war,  at  which  representatives  of  industry  and  labor 
were  present,  the  following  principles  for  demobilization  were  de- 
cided upon:  The  workers  belonging  to  mining  companies  who  are 
now  being  discharged  from  the  army  are  to  apply  for  work  to  the 
company ;  the  nonorganized  workers,  to  the  national  labor  exchange 
office.  Those  who,  in  consequence  of  a  prospective  shortage  of  coal, 
obtain  no  employment  receive  a  State  grant  to  an  amount  which  takes 
into  consideration  the  present  conditions  of  living,  but  does  not  equal 
the  sum  which  they  might  earn. 

This  grant  will  be  paid  to  organized  workers  by  the  companies  and 
to  nonorganized  workers  by  the  national  labor  exchange  office.  The 
question  of  a  shortened  working  day  and  better  housing  has  also 
engaged  the  attention  of  the  council. — [Weltwirtschaftszeitung,  Nov. 
22,  1918.] 
Resumption  of  Work  in  Coal  Mines. 

The  minister  of  labor  has  ordered  miners  to  resume  work  in  the 
coal  mines.  This  entails  the  return  of  workmen  to  the  coal  and  iron 
works  connected  with  the  mines.  Men  unemployed  are  urged  to 
apply  to  the  labor  bureaus  for  employment  on  the  railways  and  other 
important  public  works.  Factories  standing  idle  have  to  telegraph  to 
the  provincial  coal  commission  within  four  days  the  amount  of  their 
coal  reserve. — [Kolnische  Zeitung,  Dec.  12,  1918.] 
All  state  Debts  to  be  Honored. 

The  newly  appointed  Hungarian  finance  minister  is  reported  to 
have  said  that  all  State  debts  and  loans  will  be  honored,  interest  will 
be  promptly  paid,  and  obligations  will  be  duly  redeemed  at  their  full 
nominal  value.    Hungary's  future  and  its  entire  economic  program 


INTERNATIONAL.  83 

make  this  essential.  Moreover,  the  Government  realizes  that  in  the 
future  it  will  be  financially  dependent  on  the  present  neutral  States. 
The  open  credit  of  Hungary  will  be  universally  respected  not  only  by 
the  Radicals  but  by  the  Social  Democrats. — [Deutsche  Allgemeine 
Zeitung,  Dec.  14, 1918.] 

INDIA. 

Development  of  Water  Power. 

The  Government  of  India  has  recently  addressed  a  letter  to  each 
of  the  provincial  governments  with  reference  to  undertaking  a  syste- 
matic survey  of  the  water-power  resources  of  India  for  the  genera- 
tion of  electric  energy.  It  has  been  decided  that  surveys  of  water- 
power  sites  can  no  longer  be  left  to  private  enterprise,  but  that  the 
Government  must  itself  be  responsible  for  the  work. — [Report  of 
U.  S.  vice  consul  at  Calcutta,  Nov.  26, 1918,  Commerce  Reports,  U.  S. 
Dept.  of  Commerce,  Jan.  25, 1919,  p.  396.] 

INTERNATIONAL. 

International  Labor  Legislation. 

The  International  Association  for  Labor  Legislation  has  submitted 
to  the  Swiss  Federal  Council  a  memorandum  requesting  the  latter's 
support  for  the  incorporation  in  the  world's  Peace  Treaty  of  a  pro- 
gram of  international  protective  labor  legislation.    It  demands : 

1.  The  revival  of  the  international  protective  labor  treaties  of 
Berne  of  1906. 

2.  The  adoption  of  the  draft  of  1913  relating  to  the  protection  of 
juvenile  workers,  with  reservation  of  the  right  to  shorten  the  10-hour 
workday  by  the  number  of  hours'  attendance  at  continuation  schools 
required,  should  attendance  be  made  compulsory. 

3.  An  agreement  establishing  14  years  as  the  minimum  age  for  ad- 
mission to  employment  in  all  industrial  establishments,  with  the  res- 
ervation of  the  right  to  raise  this  minimum  if  development  of  the 
continuation-school  system  requires  it;  and  advancing  the  minimum 
age  to  16  years  for  underground  employment  in  mines. 

4.  Fifty-four-hour  week  for  female  workers,  providing  for  eight 
weeks'  leave  for  woman  with  child,  distributed  over  the  period  before 
and  after  confinement. 

5.  Eight-hour  shifts  in  mining  and  in  establishments  with  continu- 
ous operation. 

6.  The  regulation  by  special  agreement  of  the  Sunday  rest,  and,  in 
particular,  the  abrogation  of  the  numerous  exceptions  from  the  Sun- 
day and  holiday  rest. 

7.  Protection  against  industrial  poisoning,  prohibiting  the  use  of 
white  phosphorus  in  the  match  industry,  and  an  international  pro- 
hibition of  other  injurious  substances   (especially  lead  compounds 


$i  FOREIGIT  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

for  which  substitutes  exist) ;  the  international  prohibition  of  the  em- 
ployment of  children  and  juveniles  on  work  with  such  substances 
and,  in  establishments  particularly  dangei:ous  for  women,  of  the  em- 
ployment of  women  also. 

8.  The  enactment  of  international  safety  measures  for  workers  en- 
gaged in  international  transportation  on  water  and  on  land. 

9.  The  assurance,  through  international  agreement,  of  the  protec- 
tion of  legal  claims  of  workers  abroad  against  unequal  treatment 
with  respect  to  their  pension  claims  in  all  fields  of  social  insurance; 
and  provision  for  the  neutralization,  even  in  case  of  war,  of  the  in- 
surance contributions  of  alien  workers,  through  the  transfer  of  their 
claims  to  a  neutral  country. 

10.  The  conclusion  of  a  special  agreement  regulating  the  labor  con- 
tract in  order  to  prevent  international  labor  disputes. 

11.  Provision  for  the  protection  of  emigrant  labor  through  inter- 
national agreements  and  organization. 

12.  A  special  international  agreement  providing  that  the  reports 
of  supervisory  officials  as  to  the  enforcement  of  protective  laws  be 
made  in  comparable  form. — [Monthly  Labor  Review,  U.  S.  Dept.  of 
Labor,  November,  1918,  pp.  56,  57.] 

trniform  Classification  of  International  Foreign-Trade  Statistics. 

Renewed  steps  have  been  taken  toward  the  securing  of  a  uniform 
classification  of  international  foreign-trade  statistics.  •  A  schedule  of 
186  classes  of  commodities  was  adopted  at  a  session  of  the  Interna- 
tional Statistical  Congress  at  Brussels  in  1913,  which  was  ratified  by 
the  principal  European  and  13  American  countries.  It  was  stipulated 
that  each  country,  in  addition  to  publishing  statistics  of  imports  and 
exports  according  to  a  classification  suited  to  its  own  needs,  would 
furnish  annually  to  an  international  bureau  of  commercial  statistics 
to  be  located  at  Brussels  reports  of  imports  and  exports  in  accordance 
with  the  international  classification.  The  war  has  delayed  the  estab- 
lishment of  this  bureau.  The  United  States  Bureau  of  Foreign  and 
Domestic  Commerce  has  presented  a  statement  of  imports  and  ex- 
ports according  to  this  new  international  classification  for  the  calen- 
dar year  of  1917. — [Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce, 
Jan.  6,  1919,  p.  52.] 
Interallied  Council  of  Relief. 

The  associated  Governments  have  decided  to  establish  a  Supreme 
Council,  consisting  of  two  representatives  each  of  France,  Italy,  the 
United  States,  and  Great  Britain,  to  deal  with  the  question  of  food, 
victualizing  and  supplying  the  liberated  and  enemy  territory,  and 
to  coordinate  such  supplies  with  supplies  for  Allied  and  neutral  coun- 
tries. Certain  measures  had  already  been  taken  in  anticipation  of 
the  establishment  of  the  Supreme  Council.     The  associated  Govern- 


INTEKNATIONAL.  85 

ments  are  fully  alive  to  the  importance  of  the  problem  of  the  provi- 
sion of  supplies,  and  there  is  every  reason  to  hope  that  the  Supreme 
Council  will  shortly  be  able  to  establish  a  comprehensive  scheme  for 
dealing  with  the  whole  situation. — [British  Board  of  Trade  Jour- 
nal, Jan.  16,  1919,  p.  71.] 

Resumption  of  Paris-Constantinople  Railway  Service. 

The  International  Sleeping  Car  Company  announced  its  inten- 
tion to  reestablish  the  Orient  Express  from  Paris  to  Constantinople 
as  soon  as  conditions  render  such  action  possible.  The  train  will 
run  from  Paris  to  Milan  and  thence  through  Venice  and  Trieste  to 
Constantinople.  The  reestablishment  of  the  Orient  Express  to  Con- 
stantinople will  be  the  first  step  in  the  development  of  communica- 
tion with  the  East. — [Commerce  Keports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce, 
Feb.  10,  1919,  p.  641.] 

Berne  Conferences. 

Five  questions  filled  most  of  the  nine  days  of  discussion  at  the 
Berne  Conferences.     They  were  as  follows : 

1.  The  question  of  responsibility  for  the  war:  A  resolution  con- 
demning Germany  was  passed,  and  fuller  discussion  postponed  to  a 
later  conference. 

2.  The  League  of  Nations:  A  general  resolution  calling  for  a 
League  of  Nations,  arbitral  courts,  disarmament,  free  trade,  etc.,  was 
voted. 

3.  The  "  labor  charter  " :  The  recommendations  of  the  trade-union 
conference  which  sat  at  the  same  time  were  approved. 

4.  Territorial  questions:  A  resolution  was  passed  declaring  for 
self-determination  of  peoples;  for  plebiscites;  for  protection  of 
minorities;  and  condemning  forced  annexations  and  the  determi- 
nations of  frontiers  according  to  military  considerations,  so-called 
historic  rights,  or  supposed  economic  necessities. 

5.  Bolshevism:  The  question  being  too  hot  for  unanimity,  two 
declarations  were  put  before  the  conference  and  over  a  score  of 
speakers  expressed  their  views,  but  no  vote  was  taken.  All  factions 
agreed  upon  the  sending  of  a  Socialist  commission  to  Russia  to  study 
the  situation. — [The  Survey,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Mar.  15,  1919,  pp. 
855-858.] 

International  Labor. 

The  commission  on  international  labor  legislation  of  the  Peace 
Conference  has  issued  its  report.  Since  it  touches  on  vital  aspects  of 
national  economy,  it  promises  to  become  a  subject  of  considerable  dis- 
cussion and,  possibly,  disagreement  when  brought  up  in  the  full  con- 
ference. The  report  recapitulates  demands  already  put  forward  at 
two  previous  international  conferences  on  labor  legislation  (Berne, 


86  FOREIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

1906  and  1913),  and  asks  for  their  incorporation  in  the  Treaty  of 
Peace.  It  submits  a  number  of  subjects,  with  no  very  definite  in- 
structions, for  consideration  by  a  larger  international  labor  confer- 
ence.   The  most  important  of  these  subjects  are : 

1.  Prohibition  of  labor  by  children  under  15  years  of  age;  eight- 
hour  workday  in  mines  and  factories ;  Saturday  half -holiday. 

2.  Motherhood  protection  and  insurance;  prohibition  of  women's 
work  in  mines  and  dangerous  trades;  equal  pay  for  equal  work; 
medical  inspection  of  home  workers  and  of  their  dwellings ;  abolition 
of  all  statutes  hindering  free  combination  and  association  of  work- 
people, and  making  such  hindrance  a  penal  offense. 

3.  Foreign  workers  to  have  a  right  to  the  same  wages  and  condi- 
tions of  work  as  agreed  to  between  employers  and  native  workers  of 
a  trade.  No  prohibition  of  emigration  or  immigration  generally, 
except  that  immigration  may  be  restricted  temporarily  in  a  period 
of  economic  depression  or  for  the  protection  of  public  health. 

Wages  boards,  with  equal  representation  of  employers  and  em- 
ployed, to  fix  legal  minimum  rates  of  wages  in  cases  where  collective 
bargaining  between  a  workers'  trade-union  and  employers  proves 
impracticable.  Linking  up  of  public  employment  bureau  systems  for" 
the  exchange  of  information  on  the  state  of  the  labor  market ;  unem- 
ployment insurance,  and  State  insurance  against  industrial  accidents ; 
a  special  code  for  the  protection  of  seamen. — [The  Survey,  New 
York,  N.  Y.,  Mar.  15, 1919,  pp.  866,  867.] 
Reforestation. 

Announcement  has  recently  been  made  that  the  American  For- 
estry Association  will  aid  in  restoring  the  forests  of  Great  Britain, 
France,  and  Belgium,  which  were  sacrificed  to  the  Allied  cause  in  the 
war.  In  announcing  formal  acceptance  by  the  three  European  Gov- 
ernments of  the  American  offer  of  aid,  it  is  declared  that  about 
1,500,000  acres  of  forest  land  in  France  had  been  destroyed  by 
shell  fire  or  cut  down  for  war  needs ;  that  virtually  all  of  Belgium's 
forests  of  timber  value  had  been  felled  by  the  Germans,  and  that 
Great  Britain's  sacrifice  in  forests  amounted  to  fully  450,000  acres. — 
[Courant,  Hartford,  Conn.,  Mar.  21, 1919.] 

ITALY. 

Transition  Economy. 

The  Colonial  Institute  has  decided  to  create  a  commercial  and 
colonial  information  office,  with  headquarters  at  Rome,  which,  at 
the  suitable  moment  and  with  adequate  funds,  can  be  enlarged  and 
changed  into  a  properly  constituted  national  office  of  economic 
information  and  commercial  expansion.  This  is  to  aid  in  the  solu- 
tion of  the  complex  problems  of  the  resumption  of  normal  relations 


ITALY.  87 

with  the  other  countries,  and  the  necessity  of  expanding  in  foreign 
trade  the  economic  forces  which  the  war  has  created. — [Corriere 
de  'Italia,  May  14,  1918.] 
Raw  Materials,  Supply  of. 

A  decree  has  been  published  creating  a  committee  for  the  supply 
of  raw  materials  for  the  national  industries  and  agriculture  during 
the  transition  period  from  war  to  peace.  This  committee  will  be 
attached  to  the  ministry  of  industry,  commerce,  and  works.  It  will 
consist  of  representatives  of  industry,  commerce,  agriculture,  direc- 
tors of  banks,  and  of  the  various  interested  Government  depart- 
ments. It  will  be  divided  into  three  sections,  whose  functions  will 
be,  respectively:  1.  To  estimate  the  needs  of  the  various  industries, 
etc.;  2,  to  organize  and  finance  the  purchases;  3,  transport. — [Tri- 
buna,  June  10,  1918.] 
Transition. 

A  committee  of  100  has  been  appointed  in  Italy  to  report  on  the 
necessary  measures  to  be  adopted  in  connection  with  the  transition 
period. — [Corriere  della  Sera,  July  16,  1918.] 
Italian  Council  of  Labor  on  Transition  Economy. 

The  permanent  committee  of  the  upper  council  of  labor  presented 
recently  its  report  on  the  most  important  steps  to  be  taken  in  the 
transition  period.    Its  proposals  may  be  summarized  as  follows : 

1.  The  increase  of  national  production  is  the  basis  of  all  prep- 
aration for  the  economic  reconstruction  of  the  country  in  the  transi- 
tion period,  and  for  this  purpose  are  required : 

a.  The  coordination  of  all  national  energies. 
h.  A  financial  policy  which  realizes  the  difficulties  inseparable 
from  the  abnormal  conditions. 

c.  The  prompt  carrying  out  of  necessary  public  works. 

d.  The  careful  transformation  of  war  industries. 

e.  The  constitution  of  a  domain  of  public  lands. 
/.  The  regulation  of  the  emigration  of  workers. 

2.  A  scheme  for  general  and  technical  education,  liberally  sup- 
ported, ought  to  form  the  basis  of  a  program  of  intensive  production 
and  social  legislation. 

3.  The  State  must  adopt  an  industrial  and  commercial  policy 
which,  unshackled  by  adherence  to  any  system  of  protection  to  the 
prejudice  of  the  consumer,  will  safeguard  production  in  the  interests 
of  consumers,  towards  which  end  powerful  assistance  can  be  lent  by 
cooperation. 

4.  The  professional  representation  of  capital  and  labor  should 
exercise  direct  influence  on  transition  economy. — [II  Sole,  Aug.  8, 
1918.] 


88  FOREIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

Industrial  Mobilization. 

A  decree  by  the  ministry  of  arms  and  munitions  was  recently 
published  by  which  the  offices  of  industrial  mobilization  have  been 
reorganized.  Two  central  institutions  are  clearly  defined:  The  cen- 
tral committee  of  industrial  mobilization,  and  the  general  direction 
of  industrial  mobilization.  To  the  first  belong  the  characteristics 
of  an  advisory  body,  possessing  controlling  and  advisory  powers; 
while  to  the  second  are  assigned  the  functions  of  a  central  body 
which  acts,  organizes,  and  controls  with  the  powers  and  responsi- 
bilities of  the  ministry  on  which  it  depends.  The  latter  has  services 
and  offices,  quite  distinct,  and  fairly  numerous,  formed  with  a  prac- 
tical view  of  facilitating  relations  with  the  industrial  circles.  The 
services  will  relate  to  the  following:  General  business;  recruiting 
and  labor;  social,  economic,  and  disciplinary  treatment  of  labor; 
electro-technics;  information  and  distribution;  transport. — [II  Sole, 
Aug.  15,  1918.] 

Emigration,  Regulation  of. 

The  emigration  section  of  the  Italian  Eeconstruction  Commission 
in  its  report  emphasized  the  necessity  of  regulating  emigration  in 
such  a  way  that  it  would  not  check  the  imperative  increase  of  national 
production.  The  section  instructed  some  of  the  members  to  examine 
this  complex  problem  and  collect  some  materials  on  which  to  base 
practical  proposals. — [II  Sole,  Aug.  17,  1918.] 

Reconstruction  Mission. 

A  special  mission  has  been  dispatched  to  the  three  capitals  of  Paris, 
Rome,  and  London  to  study  the  problems  of  reconstruction  after  the 
war.— [Embros,  Sept.  4,  1918.] 

Monopoly  of  Coffee  Importation. 

A  voluntary  society  (consortium)  for  the  importation  and  distri- 
bution of  coffee  has  been  formed.  It  undertakes  to  apportion  all 
coffee  imported  into  the  country  at  prices  fixed  by  the  Government, 
and  will  cease  to  operate  six  months  after  peace  is  declared.  The 
details  of  the  organization,  object,  and  administration  of  this  society 
are  contained  in  a  decree  of  September  15, 1918. — [Gazzetta  Ufficiale, 
Sept.  23,  1918;  Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Dec. 
31,  1918,  p.  1227.] 

Future  of  Women  Workers. 

Among  the  formidable  problems  to  be  solved  by  the  Italian  Recon- 
struction Commission  is  the  question  of  what  is  going  to  be  done  with 
the  vast  army  of  women  workers  which  has  been  created  owing  to  the 
exigencies  of  the  war. — [Corriere  d'ltalia,  Sept.  .29, 1918.] 


ITALY.  89 

Better  TTtilization  of  Land. 

The  Italian  ministry  of  agriculture  is  studying  a  series  of  ques- 
tions pertaining  to  the  "  industrialization "  of  Italy,  namely,  the 
bringing  up  to  the  maximum  efficiency  such  land  as  might  not  be  well 
cultivated. 

A  careful  survey  of  the  land  of  the  whole  Kingdom  will  be  made, 
and  it  is  planned  that  any  tract  that  is  not  being  cultivated  in  an 
efficient  way  will,  if  necessary,  be  taken  over  by  the  Government, 
so  as  to  have  it  competently  developed  to  maximum  production, 
through  scientific  cultivation.  The  most  likely  plan  to  be  adopted 
by  the  Government  is  the  coercion  on  landlords  to  rent  out  their  in- 
active property  for  improvement  to  proper  firms,  persons,  or  the 
State  before  any  forcible  sale  takes  place. — [Italy  Today,  Vol.  1, 
No.  3,  Oct.  5,  1918,  p.  22.] 

Land  Drainage. 

As  an  after-the-war  reconstruction  activity  the  drainage  of  swamp 
lands  undertaken  in  Italy  now  covers  an  area  of  4,537,500  acres,  or 
one-fifteenth  of  the  entire  productive  area  of  the  country. 

The  total  expense  of  this  reclamation  work  is  about  700,000,000 
lire  (about  $140,000,000),  of  which  a  little  over  one-half  is  furnished 
by  the  National  Government  and  the  remainder  by  the  Provinces  and 
local  Governments.— [Italy  Today,  Vol.  1,  No.  3,  Oct.  5, 1918,  p.  22.] 

Farm  Loans. 

By  a  recent  decree  the  fund  of  40,000,000  lire  (about  $8,000,000) 
appropriated  for  advances  to  farm  loan  banks  for  the  purpose  of 
facilitating  loans  made  to  stimulate  the  cultivation  of  wheat  and 
other  cereals,  vegetables,  and  edible  tubers  has  been  increased  another 
5,000,000  lire  (about  $1,000,000),  which  amount  has  be^n  credited  to 
the  savings  fund  of  the  Bank  of  Naples  for  the  provincial  farm-loan 
banks  under  its  administration,  and  for  other  similar  institutions. 
The  fund  is  under  the  direction  of  the  Bank  of  Naples,  which  is  em- 
powered to  distribute  these  loans  according  to  the  needs  of  the  various 
single  banks.— [Italy  Today,  Vol.  1,  No.  3,  Oct.  5, 1918,  p.  22.] 

Proposed  Government  Aid  for  Peasants. 

A  bill  has  been  introduced  in  the  Italian  Chamber  of  Deputies 
providing  for  the  granting  of  land,  the  financing  of  purchases  of 
seeds  and  implements  used  in  its  cultivation,  the  education  of  the 
peasants,  and  the  prevention  of  diseases  prevalent  among  them.  Help 
is  to  be  extended  only  to  those  communities  where  the  land  available 
for  cultivation  is  not  sufficient  for  the  population.  In  such  com- 
munities a  farm  society  would  be  organized,  to  which  would  be  as- 
signed lands  belonging  to  the  State,  the  Provinces,  or  the  municipali- 
ties, and  if  need  be,  private  lands  near  the  communities  which  are 
uncultivated.— [Italy  Today,  Vol.  1,  No.  3,  Oct.  5,  1918,  p.  23.] 


90  FOKEIGN"  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

Greatest  Drydock  in  the  Mediterranean. 

Plans  have  been  completed  for  the  construction  of  the  greatest 
drydock  in  the  Mediterranean,  which  will  be  located  in  Naples. 
Government  decrees  have  been  signed  which  authorize  construction. — 
[Italy  Today,  Vol.  1,  No.  3,  Oct.  5,  1918,  p.  22.] 

Cold-storage  Facilities. 

The  minister  of  the  interior,  at  the  recommendation  of  the  com- 
mission for  cold-storage  facilities,  has  ordered  an  examination 
of  all  the  refrigeration  facilities  in  Italy,  with  a  view  to  determin- 
ing the  needs  for  new  installations  to  conserve  the  large  quantities 
of  meat  and  food  products  that  will  be  imported  after  the  war. — 
[Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Oct.  11,  1918,  p.  157.] 
Reconstruction,  Industrial. 

The  president  of  the  economic  subcommission  for  reconstruction 
recently  convened  a  meeting  in  Rome  of  the  heads  of  the  largest  Ital- 
ian industries  in  order  to  discuss  some  of  the  problems  of  the  period 
immediately  following  the  war.  '  They  placed  before  him  their  pro- 
grams for  the  transformation  of  the  various  industries  from  war  to 
peace  work;  and  they  asked  the  Government,  in  order  to  avoid  any 
stoppage  of  work,  to  prepare  without  delay  the  program  of  the  vari- 
ous public  works  to  be  carried  out  and  to  give  out  the  contracts  for 
same,  and  to  provide  for  the  supply  and  transport  of  coal  and  raw 
materials  necessary  for  the  various  industries  immediately  after  the 
war.  They  also  asked  that  the  Government  provisions  for  the  re- 
construction period  should  be  made  in  accordance  with  the  wishes 
of  the  laboring  organizations,  and  that  everything  should  be  done 
to  bring  about  collaboration  between  capital  and  labor. — [Corriere 
della  Sera,  Oct.  29, 1918.] 
War-Disabled  Persons,  Assistance  to  the. 

The  National  Institution  for  the  War  Disabled,  founded  by  the 
Government  in  March,  1917,  will  continue  its  existence  as  long  as 
there  remains  a  war-disabled  person  in  need  of  assistance. 

The  assistance  granted  by  the  institution  comes  under  the  follow- 
ing heads : 

Medical  attention  in  hospital  or  at  home ;  orthopedic  and  prothetic 
assistance;  the  placing  in  families  or  institutions  of  those  unable 
to  help  themselves,  who  have  no  one  to  look  after  them ;  provision  of 
educational  facilities ;  reeducation  or  trade  training ;  legal  assistance ; 
care  of  tubercular  and  insane  cases ;  assistance  in  finding  work,  or  in 
obtaining  securities,  where  necessary,  for  employment ;  relief  for  de- 
pendents; help  to  purchase  houses,  cottages,  or  land  given  disabled 
men  by  means  of  loans  arranged  through  societies  and  savings  banks. 

The  institution  is  not  a  pension  service,  pensions  being  paid  by 
the  State  direct  to  the  disabled  persons.     The  institution  benefits 


ITALY.  91 

not  only  men  who  have  been  disabled  in  the  present  war,  but  also 
those  disabled  in  previous  wars,  and  civilians  disabled  by  act  of  war. 
The  affairs  of  the  institution  are  administered  by  a  council,  com- 
posed of  doctors,  professors,  disabled  officers  and  men,  and  of  offi- 
cials. The  association  of  disabled  soldiers  nominates  four  disabled 
soldiers  as  its  representatives  on  the  council.  An  executive  commit- 
tee is  chosen  by  the  council  from  among  its  members.  There  are 
branch  offices,  with  local  committees,  in  every  provincial  capital  and 
in  many  of  the  smaller  towns. — [Corriere  d'ltalia,  Oct.  30,  1918.] 

Eeconstruction  Org^anization. 

As  early  as  1916  a  special  office  for  the  study  of  after-the-war 
problems  was  established  in  Italy;  but  in  the  political  and  military 
upheavals  which  followed,  the  bureau  was  smothered.  By  the  begin- 
ning of  1918  its  reestablishment  was  sought,  and  on  June  30  a  decree 
was  issued  creating  a  National  Royal  Commission  for  the  study  of 
measures  relating  to  the  period  of  transition  from  war  to  peace.  All 
the  active  elements  of  the  nation  were  invited  to  take  part  in  the  com- 
mission— representatives  from  the  fields  of  politics,  economics,  in- 
dustry, commerce,  education,  labor,  agriculture,  and  the  army  and 
navy.  The  organization  of  the  commission  consists  of  a  central 
committee  presided  over  by  the  president  of  the  council,  by  the  vice 
president,  and  by  a  member  of  the  Chamber  of  Deputies;  of  a  sub- 
committee for  the  study  of  legal,  administrative,  and  social  questions, 
divided  in  sections  for  legal  questions  of  international  character, 
revision  of  war  legislation,  reforms  in  the  administration  of  tribu- 
taries, Provinces,  and  communities,  reform  in  State  administration, 
reconstruction  of  the  national  wealth  in  the  invaded  territories, 
financial  measures,  colonial  questions,  reforms  in  private  rights  made 
urgent  by  the  war,  social  legislation,  and  military  justice;  and  sub- 
committees for  the  study  of  economic  questions,  divided  in  sections 
for  agricultural  production,  industrial  production  (raw  materials, 
metallurgical,  and  mechanical  industries,  extractive  industries,  manu- 
facturing and  industrial  organizations),  utilization  of  hydraulic  and 
electric  power,  credit  arrangements,  establishment  of  a  merchant 
marine  and  a  shipbuilding  industry,  increasing  commerce,  public 
works,  civil  life,  utilization  of  war  materials,  special  problems  of  the 
unredeemed  provinces.  Wherever  possible,  steps  will  be  taken  so  that 
the  most  diverse  war  organizations  will  be  able  to  be  transformed 
without  great  change  or  waste  of  effort  into  organizations  adapted  to 
the  problems  of  peace. 

The  central  committee  will  draft  the  general  program  to  be  fol- 
lowed, apportion  the  questions  to  be  treated  by  the  subcommittees, 
examine  the  findings  of  the  subcommittees,  and  on  the  basis  of  their 
decisions  draw  up  a  general  report  to  Parliament. — [Italy  Today, 


92  FOREIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

Vol.  1,  No.  5,  Nov.  5,  1918,  p.  T ;  Commerce  Eeports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of 
Commerce,  June  6,  1918,  p.  902.] 

Municipal  Public  Works  Scheme. 

The  commune  of  Milan  has  prepared  a  complete  program  of 
urgent  public  works  to  be  carried  out  amounting  to  a  total  of 
150,000,000  lire.  As  far  as  possible,  the  contracts  will  be  given  to 
labor  cooperative  societies. — [II  Sole,  Nov.  10, 1918.] 

Disabled  Soldiers,  Private  Fund  for. 

A  volume  summarizing  the  work  done  by  all  the  committees  and 
societies  in  Italy  for  the  aid  and  reeducation  of  those  blinded, 
crippled,  or  otherwise  incapacitated,  has  been  published  by  the 
National  Federation  of  Aid  Committees  in  Italy.  It  gives  in  detail 
the  actual  accomplishments  of  every  society  in  its  respective  district, 
its  organization,  and  methods. — [Italy  Today,  Vol.  1,  No.  6,  Nov.  15, 
1918,  p.  24.] 
Community  Warehouses  for  Farmers. 

An  association  to  protect  farmers  against  the  speculative  prices 
for  agricultural  material  and  implements  has  been  formed  by  the 
Bank  of  Central  Italy  for  Agriculture  and  Commerce.  The  asso- 
ciation plans  to  purchase  large  quantities  of  all  things  needed  in 
the  cultivation  of  land  direct  from  the  manufacturers  and  producers 
at  a  time  when  prices  are  most  convenient,  and  then  to  sell  them  to 
the  farmers  without  profit.  A  system  of  rationing  the  supplies  of 
seed  and  implements  will  be  established  so  as  to  insure  a  fair  and 
equitable  distribution.  Warehouses  will  be  planned  in  various  cen- 
ters so  that  the  farmers  need  not  be  forced  to  dump  their  products 
on  a  market  when  oversupplied.  In  these  the  farmers  will  be  per- 
mitted to  store  their  goods  at  a  small  cost,  and  money  will  be  ad- 
vanced to  them,  if  needed,  with  the  stored  goods  as  a  guaranty. — 
[Italy  Today,  Vol.  1,  No.  6,  Nov.  15,  1918,  p.  22.] 

Reconstruction  Organization. 

The  agrarian  division  of  the  commission  has  recommended  pro- 
visions for  protecting  the  forest  lands,  and  for  decreasing  the 
slaughter  of  live  stock.  It  urged  a  census  of  the  wood  available  and 
the  requirements  of  the  country  for  construction  work,  for  timber, 
and  for  charcoal,  and  the  distribution  of  the  supply  to  the  essential 
industries  first.  It  urged  the  intensification  of  the  importation  of 
frozen  meat  so  as  to  reduce  the  slaughter  of  live  stock  in  Italy. — 
[Italy  Today,  Vol.  1,  No.  6,  Nov.  15, 1918,  p.  22.] 
Shipping  Control  Policy. 

Under  a  recent  decree,  all  new  merchant  ships  which  become  part 
of  the  merchant  marine  from  August  27,  1918,  to  December  21,  1920, 


ITALY.  93 

if  acquired  abroad;  or  from  January  1,  1920,  to  June  30,  1921,  if 
constructed  in  Italy,  may  not  enjoy  the  liberty  of  free  operation,  but 
will  be  chartered  by  the  Government  for  two  years. — [Italy  Today, 
Vol.  1,  No.  6,  Nov.  15,  1918,  p.  10.] 

Cooperative  Societies  of  Government  Employees. 

Cooperative  societies  of  State  employees  have  been  established  in 
Italy  under  a  national  decree  recently  issued  by  the  minister  of  the 
treasury.  Branches  of  the  society  will  be  opened  in  the  main  cities 
of  all  the  provinces  under  the  management  of  a  central  organization. 
The  largest  of  these  will  soon  be  opened  in  Naples,  with  a  member- 
ship of  about  240,000.  Special  provisions  for  credit  advancements, 
acquisition  of  provisions,  and  management  of  the  organizations  are 
set  forth  in  the  decree.  To  defray  the  original  expenses  of  setting 
up  the  establishments,  the  Government  has  provided  for  the  advance- 
ment of  loans  at  4  per  cent  and  for  the  opening  of  charge  accounts 
for  purchasing  supplies.  A  sum  of  $2,000,000  has  already  been  set 
aside  for  this  purpose.  Banks  and  savings  institutions  have  been 
authorized  to  advance  credits  to  the  cooperative  stores.  The  Govern- 
ment will  supply  direct  to  the  cooperative  societies,  at  cost,  agricul- 
tural, food  products,  and  other  commodities  the  distribution  of  which 
is  under  Govermnent  supervision. 

The  societies  are  formed  for  the  purpose  of  purchasing  foodstuffs 
or  other  goods  from  the  State  or  in  the  open  market,  for  distribution 
among  its  members  and  their  families  at  cost,  plus  general  working 
and  administrative  expenses,  with  a  moderate  margin  of  profit. 
They  are  at  liberty  to  establish  their  own  factories. — [Corriere 
dTtalia,  Oct.  5, 1918;  Italy  Today,  Vol.  1,  No.  6,  Nov.  15, 1918,  p.  14.] 

War  Work  and  Supplies,  Suspension  of. 

In  order  to  facilitate  the  transition  of  industries  from  war  to  peace 
work,  a  decree  has  been  published,  adopting  the  following  temporary 
provisions  for  firms  producing  war  materials : 

1.  The  following  work  and  supplies  for  war  purposes  are  sus- 
pended :  New  contracts ;  the  execution  of  contracts  on  which  work  has 
not  commenced ;  the  completion  of  contracts  in  course  of  execution ; 
the  employment  of  raw  materials,  except  by  authority  of  the  ministry 
of  industries ;  or  for  the  production  of  goods  in  general  use. 

2.  Manufacturers  are  authorized  to  commence  work  for  the  pro- 
duction of  any  kind  of  goods  using  raw  materials  supplied  by  the 
State  on  conditions  based  on  new  prices,  which  will  be  published 
shortly.  Manufacturers  may  use  their  own  raw  materials,  the  State, 
however,  retaining  its  right  to  a  prior  claim  on  these. — [Corriere  della 
Sera,  Nov.  16, 1918.] 


94  FOREIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

Economic  Expansion,  Organization  for. 

The  reconstruction  commission  being  convinced  of  the  immediate 
necessity  of  reforming  the  organizations  for  economic  expansion  by 
the  vigorous  resumption  of  the  export  trade,  has  forwarded  the  fol- 
lowing recommendations  to  the  Government: 

1.  The  appointment  to  the  ministry  of  industry,  commerce,  and 
labor,  of : 

a.  A  political-commercial  commission,  for  the  purpose  of  studying 
the  interior  and  foreign  political  economic  problems. 

h.  A  department  of  commercial  intelligence,  which  should,  how- 
ever, have  no  executive  powers,  these  being  left  to  private  organiza- 
tions. 

2.  The  appointment  to  the  ministry  of  foreign  affairs  of  an  inter- 
ministerial  commission  to  which  should  be  left  the  direction  of  eco- 
nomic activity  abroad,  and  which  should  coordinate  the  functions 
carried  out  up  to  the  present  by  the  ministries  of  industry  and  of 
foreign  affairs.  Representatives  of  industry,  commerce,  agriculture, 
and  finance  should  be  appointed  to  this  commission. 

3.  The  reform  of  the  consular  service,  in  the  sense  of  greater 
specialization  of  the  consular  corps,  so  as  to  render  more  efficacious 
its  economic  activities.  According  to  this  plan,  the  central  organ 
for  obtaining  information  and  for  studying  the  problems  relating 
to  economic  action  abroad,  would  be  the  ministry  of  industry  through 
its  political-commercial  commission;  the  directing  organ  of  foreign 
economic  policy  would  be  the  interministerial  commission;  and  the 
executive  organ,  the  ministry  of  foreign  affairs  through  its  diplo- 
matic and  consular  agents. — [II  Sole,  Nov.  16,  1918.] 

Transition   Organization:    War   Contracts,   Arbitration,   Unemployment   Fund, 
Public  Works. 

By  a  decree  of  the  Italian  Government,  a  committee  has  been 
formed  by  the  ministers  of  finance,  war,  marine,  munitions  and 
transport,  and  public  works  and  industry.  This  committee  will  pro- 
mote and  coordinate  the  actions  of  the  various  State  administrations 
for  the  transition  from  a  state  of  war  to  a  state  of  peace. 

Any  contracts  in  course  of  completion  at  the  date  of  publication  of 
this  decree,  between  the  State  administration  and  private  firms  for 
supplies  and  work  depending  on  a  state  of  war,  can  be  suspended, 
rescinded,  reduced,  prorogued,  transformed,  and  modified  by  the 
committee.  The  committee  will  also  have  the  power  to  deal  with 
contracts  abroad.     The  committee  will  be  authorized  to  dispose  of : 

a.  The  cession  to  State  administrations,  private  firms,  and  asso- 
ciations of  raw  materials,  semimanufactured  and  manufactured 
goods,  out  of  war  supplies. 

b.  Works  and  manufactures,  even  if  infringing  regulations  in 
force,  of  State  administration  and  public  authorities. 


ITALY.  95 

c.  General  regulations  for  the  fixing  of  prices  of  raw  materials  and 
manufactured  goods,  and  deciding  the  character  of  such  manufac- 
tures. 

If,  in  consequence  of  these  provisions,  indemnities  are  paid  to  firms 
for  the  reduction  or  rescission  of  contracts;  and  the  amount  of  such 
indemnities  renders  a  firm  liable  to  excess  profits  duty,  the  amount 
of  the  indemnity  rendering  a  firm  liable  to  excess  profits  duty  shall 
be  taxed  at  the  rate  of  100  per  cent. 

The  provisions  established  by  the  committee  will  be  executed  by  a 
board  of  management,  the  staff  of  which  will  be  provided  by  the 
ministry  of  finance.  A  sum  of  1,000,000  lire  will  be  provided  by  the 
ministry  for  the  purpose. 

An  arbitration  board  will  be  appointed,  consisting  of  a  president ; 
not  less  than  five  magistrates;  not  less  than  three  councilors  of 
State;  not  less  than  three  councilors  or  referees  of  the  court  of  ac- 
counts ;  and  not  less  than  three  technical  men,  engineers  or  chemists, 
belonging  to  the  public  administration.  No  appeal  will  be  allowed 
against  the  decision  of  the  board  of  arbitration. 

The  State  will  place  a  sum  of  100,000,000  lire  at  the  disposal  of  the 
semiemployment  fund. 

The  expenditure  of  1,000,000,000  lire  is  authorized  for  the  execu- 
tion of  public  works;  1,800,000,000  lire  for  railway  works,  renewal 
of  rolling  stock,  etc.,  by  the  railways ;  500,000,000  lire  by  ministries  of 
post  and  telegraphs,  agriculture,  industry,  finance,  education,  the 
interior,  and  the  colonies  for  works  of  public  utility. 

The  Deposit  and  Loan  Bank  is  authorized  to  make  advances  to 
communities,  Provinces,  and  associations,  for  a  total  amount  of 
500,000,000  lire,  at  3  per  cent  interest,  for  the  execution  of  public 
works.— [II  Sole,  Nov.  22,  1918.] 

Compensation  for  War  Damage. 

A  commission  set  up  in  regard  to  war  damage  has  issued  a  decree 
recognizing  the  right  to  such  compensation.  It  does  not  apply  to 
ships  other  than  small  craft.  While  only  Italian  citizens  are  entitled 
to  the  privileges  of  the  decree,  compensation  will  be  granted  to  for- 
eigners under  agreements  to  be  concluded  with  the  foreign  States  to 
which  they  belong.  The  commission  will  decide  doubtful  cases.  An 
indemnity  of  from  5,000  to  15,000  lire  will  be  granted  to  dependents 
of  a  person  whose  death  was  due  to  some  act  of  war.  Where  perma- 
nent total  incapacity  is  caused  an  indemnity  of  from  10,000  to  20,000 
lire  will  be  granted.  The  commission  will  determine  the  amount  and 
form  of  the  indemnity,  which  may  be  satisfied  in  bonds  of  the  public 
debt  or  in  other  bonds  issued  by  the  Italian  treasury.  No  indemnity 
is  due  if  the  death  or  incapacity  occurred  in  the  course  of  military 
service,  nor  to  dependents  or  the  persons  injured  if  they  have  a  tax- 


96  FOREIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

able  income  higher  than  5,000  lire.  Personal  or  real  property  lost, 
destroyed,  or  damaged,  through  an  act  of  war,  within  the  realm,  dis- 
tricts that  may  be  annexed,  or  colonies  of  Italy,  will  be  compensated 
for.— [Corriere  della  Sera,  Nov.  26,  1918.] 

Protection  of  Labor  Against  Unemployment. 

At  the  invitation  of  the  president  of  the  commission  on  economics 
for  reconstruction,  a  meeting  was  held  of  the  leading  industrial  heads 
in  Italy  to  discuss  the  most  immediate  problems  which  would  face 
Italy  at  the  cessation  of  hostilities.  Eepresentatives  of  the  minister 
of  arms,  ammunition  and  aviation,  the  minister  of  war,  transporta- 
tion and  industry,  and  the  director  general  of  railroads  were  also 
present. 
Program  of  Public  Works. 

The  commune  of  Milan  has  prepared  a  program  of  public  works 
which  it  will  carry  out  during  the  next  five  years.  The  detail  ex- 
penditure during  this  period  is  estimated  at  242,980,000  lire.  With 
reference  to  housing,  in  addition  to  recommendations  made  to  the 
Government,  the  commune  will  grant  new  sites  to  the  institute  for 
popular  housing  and  will  grant  them  1,000,000  lire  in  1919,  on  ac- 
count of  the  10,000,000  lire  which  will  be  granted  to  them  in  the 
course  of  the  next  five  years. — [Corriere  della  Sera,  Nov.  28, 1918.] 

Demands  of  TJnion  "Workers. 

A  series  of  resolutions  were  passed  by  the  workers'  union  demand- 
ing the  abolition  of  various  war-time  restrictions  and  the  adoption 
of  measures  to  combat  unemployment.  The  principles  advocated 
with  respect  to  dismissal  of  factory  hands  include  the  following :  The 
right  to  dismiss  all  female  labor  and  men  not  called  out,  on  the  basis 
of  factory  contracts ;  greatest  possible  freedom  of  transfer  for  mobi- 
lized labor  to  different  factories  or  districts ;  right  to  demand  transfer 
from  war  to  peace  industry  to  be  granted  to  discharged,  recalled,  and 
nonmobilized  men;  easy  release  of  industrial  labor  for  agriculture; 
employers  to  communicate  with  the  home  commission  before  ordering 
wholesale  dismissals  and  to  observe  certain  specified  principles  in  the 
matter. 

With  respect  to  unemployment,  the  union  demands  the  establish- 
ment of  adequate  employment  bureaus;  maintenance  allowance  for 
workmen  thrown  idle,  the  amount  to  be  increased  in  proportion  to 
the  number  of  dependents,  this  .assistance  to  be  given  irrespective  of 
war-time  unemployment  measures ;  a  lump  sum  to  be  paid  by  employ- 
ers to  women  seeking  release  in  order  to  return  home;  freedom  of 
emigration  and  free  traveling  for  workmen  with  families  abroad; 
discharge  to  be  granted  to  employers  of  the  war-economic  organiza- 
tions of  agriculture,  industrial  cooperative  societies,  and  to  agri- 
cultural workers  on  farms  which  have  no  male  labor. 


ITALY.  97 

For  men  who  have  been  on  active  service  the  confederation  de- 
mands a  fair  indemQity  to  be  paid  to  discharged  men;  pensions  in 
serious  cases  and  indemnities  in  others ;  disabled  and  invalid  soldiers 
employed  in  industry,  commerce,  and  agriculture  to  receive  the  same 
wages  as  other  workmen. — [Tribuna,  Nov.  30, 1918,  p.  91.] 

Program  of  Public  Works. 

A  resolution  was  adopted  at  a  meeting  of  industrial  chiefs  asking 
the  Government  to  make  a  survey  of  the  public  works  that  need  to 
be  done  at  once  and  to  assign  these  works  to  factories  now  doing  war 
work  on  the  basis  of  the  number  of  persons  employed.  It  also  asked 
the  Government  to  see  that  sufficient  coal  be  available  to  cover  the 
demands  of  Italian  factories  in  order  to  avoid  unemployment. — [Italy 
Today,  Vol.  1,  No.  T,  Dec.  2,  1918,  p.  52.] 

Expenditures  for  Municipal  Public  Works. 

Public  works  involving  an  expenditure  of  $30,000,000  will  be  begun 
at  once  by  the  city  of  Rome,  so  as  to  give  employment  to  those  form- 
erly in  war  industries.  Wherever  possible,  factories  engaged  in  war 
work  will  be  transformed  so  as  to  manufacture  building  material  and 
railroad  supplies  and  equipment. — [Italy  Today,  Vol.  1,  No.  7,  Dec. 
2, 1918,  p.  57.] 

Reconstruction  of  Railways. 

The  Italian  Supreme  Command  has  announced  that  the  military 
engineering  railroad  authorities  have,  with  the  consent  of  the  rail- 
way authorities,  taken  up  the  work  of  reestablishing  railway  con- 
nections in  the  liberated  territories  of  the  North.  Bridges  will  be 
reconstructed  and  telegraphic  service  will  be  restored  with  the  utmost 
speed. — [Giornale  D'ltalia,  Dec.  4,  1918.] 
state  Monopolies. 

The  Italian  Government  adopted  a  law  on  November  22,  1918,  to 
go  into  effect  at  the  discretion  of  the  Government,  and  the  minister 
of  finance  has  issued  a  decree  providing  for  the  monopolization  by 
the  State  of  the  supply  and  sale  of  coffee  and  coffee  substitutes,  tea, 
sugar,  petroleum,  benzine,  paraffin,  and  other  heavy  and  light  mineral 
oils  (excluding  lubricants) ,  and  the  residues  from  their  distillation, 
coal  (excluding  domestic  coke),  denatured  alcohol,  explosives,  elec- 
tric lamps,  and  the  extraction  of  mercury  and  quinine. 

The  minister  of  finance  stated  that  the  paramount  necessity  of  in- 
creasing the  fiscal  revenues  has  led  to  this  step,  but  that  the  Govern- 
ment had  taken  the  greatest  care  to  disturb  private  interests  as  lit- 
tle as  possible.  The  alternative  of  taxing  new  manufacturers  and 
supplies  would  only  lead  to  still  higher  prices  against  the  consumers' 
interests.— [Corriere  della  Sera,  Nov.  23,  1918;  II  Sole,  Dec.  5,  1918; 
Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Dec.  6,  1918,  p.  897.] 
115488—19 7 


98  FOREIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

Industrial  Reorganization. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  association  of  limited  companies,  held  in 
Rome,  resolutions  were  passed  which  provided' that  representatives 
of  industrial  organizations  should  be  called  upon  by  the  Government 
to  act  as  technical  consultants  regarding  the  economic  policy;  that 
export  permits  should  be  granted  on  such  a  scale  as  to  permit  Italian 
industries  to  compete  in  foreign  markets;  that  all  monopolies  of 
essential  raw  materials  should  be  abandoned;  that  day  and  evening 
technical  schools  should  be  opened  for  employees  of  private  firms; 
that  the  advice  and  proposals  of  industrial  organizations  should  be 
taken  into  consideration  by  the  Government. — [Tribuna,  Dec.  14, 
1918.] 

Expenditures  for  Public  Works. 

An  expenditure  of  $600,000,000  has  been  authorized  by  the  Italian 
Government  for  public  works  to  be  undertaken  by  concerns  formerly 
engaged  in  war  industries.  This  is  part  of  the  plan  approved  by 
the  Italian  cabinet  to  facilitate  the  transformation  of  industries 
from  a  war  to  a  peace  basis.  The  assigning  of  contracts  for  public 
works  to  firms  formerly  in  war  industries  is  regulated  by  a  decree 
which  authorizes  the  following  expenditures:  $360,000,000  for  rail- 
road materials  and  work,  or  railroads  generally;  $200,000,000  for 
drainage  works  and  reclamation  of  waste  lands,  bridges,  harbor  im- 
provements, and  roads;  $100,000,000  for  works  of  public  character 
which  are  under  the  ministries  of  health,  education,  etc. 

A  fund  of  $20,000,000  has  been  set  aside,  in  addition  to  $1,500,000 
already  raised,  to  help  those  who,  because  of  the  nature  of  their  work, 
may  be  forced  into  an  involuntary  period  of  unemployment. — [Italy 
Today,  Vol.  1,  No.  8,  Dec.  16,  1918,  p.  28.] 
Profit  Sharing  in  Industry. 

A  new  Italian  Government  decree  sanctions  and  allows  the  consti- 
tution of  a  profit-sharing  fund  between  capital  and  labor  in  those 
firms  which  have  set  aside  a  special  reserve  fund  after  paying  the 
limited  dividends  now  allowed.  It  is  established  that  one-third  of 
such  reserve  must  be  invested  in  State  securities,  while  the  rest  may 
form  a  special  joint  capital  and  labor  fund.  The  principle  is  also 
laid  down  that  the  relations  between  employers  and  employees  should 
be  regulated  on  the  basis  of- the  fair  distribution  of  profits,  and  indi- 
vidual industrial  undertakings  are  empowered  to  take  the  necessary 
measures  for  putting  their  respective  profit-sharing  schemes  into 
practice,  each  proposal,  however,  being  first  submitted  for  approval 
to  the  minister  of  industry,  commerce,  and  labor,  at  whose  instance 
the  decree  referred  to  was  issued. — [Weekly  Bulletin,  Canadian  Dept. 
of  Trade  and  Commerce,  Ottawa,  Canada,  Dec.  30,  1918;  Commerce 
Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Jan.  20, 1919,  p.  319.] 


ITALY.  99' 

Railway  Program. 

The  State  railway  administration  has  put  forward  a  vast  program 
for  the  completing  and  repairing  of  locomotives,  wagons,  coaches, 
etc.,  involving  the  use  of  400,000  tons  of  metals  and  the  expenditure 
of  600,000.000  lire.  The  contracts  are  being  placed  with  private 
firms.— [Tribuna,  Dec.  30,  1918.] 

Agricultural  XJnions. 

Membership  in  agricultural  unions  is  almost  universal  in  northern 
Italy  and  the  prevalence  of  a  six-hour  day  for  agricultural  labor 
is  one  of  the  derived  benefits. — [Post,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  17, 
1919.] 

Trade  With  United  States. 

The  Italo-American  Economic  Committee,  which  was  formed  at  the 
end  of  last  year,  is  now  ready  to  commence  its  practical  work,  which 
will  be  as  follows : 

1.  Agreements  betw^een  competing  producers,  so  as  to  eliminate  the 
waste  of  unregulated  competition. 

2.  Agreements  for  the  increase  of  sales  of  noncompeting  products, 
in  the  two  countries,  and  eventually  to  organize  depots  for  redistri- 
bution to  other  markets. 

3.  Development  and  introduction  into  Italy  of  industries,  with 
Italian  and  American  capital,  on  modem  lines,  giving  a  maximum  of 
efficiency. 

4.  Investment  of  Italian  and  American  capital  for  the  development 
of  the  natural  resources  of  Italy. — [Corriere  della  Sera,  Jan.  21, 
1919.] 

Government  Control  of  the  Silk  Trade. 

Under  State  control  there  has  been  formed  a  central  silk-trade  office' 
in  Italy,  whose  function  it  will  be  to  protect  the  interests  of  this 
Italian  trade,  and  which  will  have  charge  of  all  purchases  (at  fixed 
prices)  and  sales  of  silk  produced  from  the  native  silkworm.  It  is 
believed  that  the  office  has  been  created  to  better  the  silk-trade  situa- 
tion and  stabilize  the  market. — [Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of 
Commerce,  Jan.  22,  1919,  p.  341.] 

Opposition  to  Coal  Monopoly. 

Italian  senators  and  chambers  of  commerce  in  the  larger  Italian' 
towns  are  opposing  the  new  State  monoply  on  coal  as  destructive  of 
important  Italian  industries. — [Christian  Science  Monitor,.  Bbston^ 
Mass.,  Jan.  30, 1919.] 

Emigration  of  Italian  Labor. 

The  president  of  the  emigration  section  of  the  Colonial  Reconstruc- 
tion Congress  has  stated  that  many  foreign  countries  will  be  in  need 
of  labor  immediately  after  the  war,  and  that  ^taly  will  be-  able'  to 


100  FOEEIGIT  READJUSTMENT   AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

supply  some  of  the  demands  of  thoso  foreign  countries,  and  that  the 
Italian  workingman  will  be  in  a  position  to  choose  the  market  for  his 
labor  and  the  occupation  for  which  he  is  best  adapted.  He  stated 
that  in  the  past  foreign  countries  in  need  of  Italian  labor  created  the 
impression  that  by  employing  this  labor  they  were  performing  an  act 
of  charity ;  but  henceforth  the  demand  for  this  labor  will  come  from 
abroad,  and  it  is  necessary  for  emigrants  to  realize  that  the  giving  of 
work  to  Italians  will  be  no  longer  a  matter  of  charity  or  philanthropy, 
but  of  absolute  necessity;  and  that  countries  needing  Italian  labor 
will  have  to  give  guarantees  assuring  these  workmen  proper  living 
and  working  conditions  before  they  will  respond  to  the  invitation. — 
[Monthly  Labor  Keview,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor,  February,  1919,  p. 
274.] 

Metallurgical  Report. 

The  Italian  Metallurgical  Association  points  out  in  its  recent  re- 
port that  the  metallurgical  industries  of  the  country  can  not  long  be 
satisfied  with  native  ore  supplies. — [Journal  of  Commerce,  New  York, 
N.  Y.,  Feb.  1, 1919.] 

Emigration. 

The  present  agitation  in  the  United.  States  against  immigration  is 
causing  a  great  deal  of  concern  in  Italy.  This  matter  is  of  great  im- 
portance to  Italy,  owing  to  the  large  number  of  emigrants  leaving 
the  country  to  cross  the  Atlantic.  Should  the  United  States  prohibit 
immigration  it  would  be  necessary  to  find  another  outlet  for  Italy's 
surplus  population.  Australia  has  been  suggested,  although  it  is 
understood  that  the  labor  organizations  in  that  country  are  against 
a  great  inroad  of  immigrants;  and,  again,  it  is  difficult  to  divert  the 
stream  of  immigration  in  any  other  direction,  the  Italians  having 
formed  the  habit  of  crossing  the  Atlantic.  Therefore,  it  is  particu- 
larly toward  France  that  the  stream  will  turn,  as  it  is  estimated  that 
not  less  than  3,000,000  men  will  be  required  to  carry  out  the  work  of 
reconstruction  in  that  country. — [Corriere  della  Sera,  Feb.  4, 1919.] 

Replacing  Rolling  Stock. 

Out  of  3,300,000,000  lire  voted  for  public  works,  no  less  than  1,800,- 
000,000  has  been  set  aside  for  railway  works,  of  which  1,000,000,000  are 
to  be  expended  for  the  acquisition  of  rolling  stock.  A  total  of  22,000 
trucks  and  600  locomotives  have  been  ordered  in  Italy,  and  10,000 
trucks  and  300  locomotives  in  America.  The  Italian  railway  admin- 
istration by  promptly  placing  these  large  orders  has  greatly  helped 
in  preventing  unemployment  on  demobilization,  as  these  orders  are 
sufficient  to  keep  the  Italian  factories  for  railway  materials  busy 
until  the  end  of  1920,  and  with  the  normal  quantity  of  work  coming 
in  as  well,  they  should  be  fully  employed  for  five  years. — [Corriere 
<lella  Sera,  Feb.  9,  1919.] 


JAPAN;.,  ,;r  101 

Harbor  Improvement.  ,'  \  ■      -  - ,  ,    ;  ^  ;  '^ '  ^  t    ' 

The  central  commission  for  harbors,  coasts,  "ahd 'lighthouses  has 
approved  enlargement  plans  for  the  port  of  Spezia  estimated  at 
$1,800,000.— [Journal  of  Commerce,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  29, 1919.1 

Labor. 

The  Italian  Federation  of  Labor  and  the  principal  employers  of 
Italy  have  reached  an  amicable  agreement  concerning  wages  and 
working  hours,  w^hich,  for  the  first  time,  places  Italian  labor  on  a 
plane  with  American  labor.  Beginning  May  10,  hours  of  work  will 
be  reduced  from  72  to  48,  and  wages  are  substantially  increased. — 
[The  Public,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Apr.  12, 1919,  p.  382.] 

JAPAN. 

Reconstruction. 

A  committee  for  the  investigation  of  economic  matters  bearing 
on  the  War  was  appointed  two  years  ago,  and  arrangements  were 
made  for  the  consultation  of  experts  and  business  men  and  for  recom- 
mendations to  be  made  by  the  committee  to  the  Government  in 
connection  with  the  subjects  to  be  investigated.  Nothing  has  been 
heard  regarding  the  proceedings  of  the  committee. —  [Nichi  Nichi, 
Oct.  22,  1917.] 
Postwar  Export  Business,  Preparedness  for. 

The  Municipal  Foreign-Trade  Bureau  of  Yokohama  has  mailed 
5,000  circulars  to  all  parts  of  the  w^orld  telling  of  the  creation  of  this 
bureau.  The  bureau  will  be  the  forerunner  of  a  great  commercial 
museum  to  be  built  in  that  city  in  the  near  future. — [Commerce  Ke- 
ports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Aug.  21, 1918,  p.  700.] 
Foreign  Trade. 

There  is  to  be  a  display  of  samples  in  the  offices  of  the  foreign- 
trade  bureau  at  Yokohama,  and  information  regarding  exports  and 
imports  and  foreign  trade  generally  will  be  available  there.  It  is 
planned  to  send  industrial  and  technical  commissioners  abroad  to 
study  industry  in  the  various  manufacturing  centers  of  the  world. 
Steps  are  also  being  taken  to  arrange  exhibits  of  Japanese  products 
in  different  countries.  The  first  exhibition  of  the  kind  is  to  be  held 
in  Montevideo  from  June  to  December,  1919. —  [Federation  of  British 
Industries,  Nov.  7,  1918,  p.  469.] 

Higher  Education. 

The  Japanese  Government  intends  to  devote  $21,934,000  to  extend 
the  agencies  of  higher  education,  this  sum  to  be  a  continuing  ex- 
penditure extending  over  six  years  from  1919-1920  to  1924-1925.  Of 
this  sum  $19,690,750  is  to  be  expended  on  the  building  and  extension 
of  schoolhouses  and  $2,243,250  on  the  training  of  teachers.  It  is  pro- 
posed that  the  greater  part  of  the  latter  sum  be  appropriated  to  the 


102  rOR:^QK  REAt)JU:syi\j:i5N.T  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

costs  of  disp^t^kiji^  aiatl  jnaintaicing  studenis  abroad.  The  proposal 
as  to  establish,  in  addition  to  the  higher-educational  institutions  al- 
ready in  existence,  10  high  schools,  17  technical  and  commercial 
schools,  one  foreign-language  school,  and  one  school  of  pharmacy,  be- 
sides extending  the  present  colleges  and  organizing  new  ones.  It  is 
expected  that  the  program  will  be  completely  carried  into  execution 
in  the  course  of  six  years  and  that  teaching  at  the  new  institutions  will 
commence  in  1925.  In  the  educational  year  1917-1918  about  56,000 
students  applied  for  admission  to  public  and  private  higher  and 
special  schools,  while  the  capacity  of  these  schools  was  only  sufficient 
to  accommodate  14,000. — [Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Com- 
merce, Mar.  20,  1919,  p.  1387.] 

Study  of  English. 

The  popularity  in  the  study  of  the  English  language  has  increased 
in  Japan  to  a  remarkable  degree  since  the  declaration  of  the  armi- 
stice, and  the  Tokio  School  of  Foreign  Languages  has  about  800 
candidates  annually,  of  which  400  are  admitted.  The  students  in 
English  exceed  in  number  those  of  French  or  other  European  lan- 
guages.—[The  Public,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Apr.  12, 1919,  p.  382.] 

MEXICO. 

Creation  of  a  Department  of  Industry,  Commerce,  and  Lands. 

A  new  department  has  been  created  with  four  sections,  namely, 
internal  commerce,  external  commerce,  insurance,  and  publications 
and  statistics.  The  section  of  internal  commerce  is  charged  with 
the  task  of  cooperating  with  the  chambers  of  commerce  existing  in 
the  Republic,  and  aiding  them  to  secure  the  best  possible  develop- 
ment of  international  trade;  the  section  of  external  commerce  has 
the  general  purpose  of  ascertaining  new  facts  relating  to  the 
products  of  Mexico  and  of  aiding  in  mercantile  interchange  with 
other  countries ;  the  section  of  insurance  will  compile  statistics  of  all 
classes  of  life,  accident,  and  fire  insurance,  and  will  also  exercise  a 
certain  measure  of  control  over  the  activities  of  insurance  organiza- 
tions; the  section  of  publications  and  statistics  is  concerned  with 
collecting  statistics  relating  to  the  trade  of  Mexico.  The  new  de- 
partment issues  a  monthly  bulletin. — [British  Board  of  Trade  Jour- 
nal, Oct.  24,  1918,  p.  521.] 

Reconstruction  Plans. 

The  President's  message  of  September  1,  1918,  to  the  Mexican 
Congress,  discussing  Mexico's  chances  for  material  and  financial 
reconstruction,  appears  to  include  a  determination :  1.  To  nationalize 
petroleum  and  other  mineral  properties;  2,  to  utilize  for  Govern- 
ment purposes  the  net  earnings  of  the  national  railways  and  other 


MEXICO.  103 

such  organizations;  3,  to  defer  the  payment  of  the  forced  loan  of 
54,000,000  pesos  taken  from  the  collapsing  banks  of  issue. — [Com- 
merce Eeports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Dec.  3,  1918,  p.  852.] 
Commercial  Congress. 

According  to  an  article  in  the  issue  of  El  Universal  of  January  3, 
the  Chamber  of  Commerce  of  Mexico  has  proposed  to  hold  a  com- 
mercial congress  in  Mexico  City  some  time  in  April,  to  consider 
trade  relations  between  Mexico  and  other  nations.  Invitations  will 
be  extended  to  chambers  of  commerce  of  foreign  countries,  so  that 
they  may  send  representatives  to  attend  the  Congress. — [Eeport  of 
U.  S.  consul  general,  Mexico  City,  Mexico,  Jan.  6,  1919;  Commerce 
Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Jan.  31,  1919,  p.  532.] 

Conciliatory  Policy. 

The  Mexican  Government  has  assumed  a  new  policy  in  northern 
Mexico,  evidently  designed  to  quell  disorder  now  threatening  in 
many  quarters.  The  policy  promises  to  be  conciliatory  to  various 
Mexican  factions  and  to  American  interests.  The  new  zone  com- 
mander at  Chihuahua  City  says  American  capital  will  be  encour- 
aged.—[Herald,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  29,  1919.] 

Damage  Claims. 

American  losses  amounting  to  $250,000,000  through  the  revolution 
and  border  banditry  in  Mexico  are  being  passed  upon,  and  damage 
•  claims  established  by  the  indemnity  commission  of  the  Carranza 
Government,  it  is  announced  at  the  Mexican  Embassy  in  Washing- 
ton.—[Wall  Street  Journal,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  3, 1919.] 

Parcel-Post  Tax. 

The  American  Ambassador  has  transmitted  the  text  of  a  Mexican 
decree  of  January  7,  imposing  a  special  surtax  of  15  per  cent  of  the 
customs  duties  on  all  goods  imported  or  exported  by  parcel  post. — 
[Official  U.  S.  Bulletin,  Feb.  13,  1919.] 

I'oreign  Trade. 

Mexico  will  place  in  the  United  States  a  large  order  for  railroad 
equipment  to  replace  that  destroyed  in  the  revolution  as  soon  as 
arrangements  are  completed  for  proposed  bankers'  credit  which  will 
he  extended  to  Mexico  as  a  result  of  the  negotiations  with  the  acting 
minister  of  finance. — [Wall  Street  Journal,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Feb. 
14,  1919.] 

Bevision  of  Concessions. 

Official  information  has  been  received  that  the  Mexican  secretary 
of  agriculture  has  ordered  a  revision  of  concessions  granted  foreign 
corporations  and  individuals  by  former  governments  of  Mexico.  The 
need  for  greater  agricultural  development  was  given  as  the  reason 


104  FOKEIGN  KEADJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTKUCTIOlsr. 

for  the  order,  as  well  as  the  alleged  detrimental  use  of  the  conces- 
sions.—[Post,  Washington,  D.  C,  Feb.  17,  1919.] 

Plans  for  Securing  Trade. 

The  British  consulate  in  Mexico  City  has  been  sending  out  ques- 
tionnaires to  important  Mexican  firms,  in  which  they  are  asked  to 
give  full  information  in  regard  to  the  products  they  handle  for  ex- 
port or  import;  whether,  on  account  of  war  conditions,  they  have 
transferred  their  business  to  other  countries  than  those  with  which 
they  formerly  traded;  what  products  will  be  most  in  demand  upon 
the  return  of  normal  conditions;  whether  they  would  object  to  an 
exchange  of  samples  with  British  firms;  what  improvements  could 
be  made  to  facilitate  trade  with  the  British  Empire,  such  as  transpor- 
tation, credit,  etc.;  the  names  of  competitors  among  enemy  and 
neutral  firms,  etc. — [Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce, 
Apr.  5, 1919,  p.  124.] 

Trade  Development. 

As  an  evidence  of  the  growing  interest  in  trade  the  Mexican  Gov- 
ernment has  sent  three  new  commercial  agents  to  the  United  States 
and  one  to  Spain;  and  the  department  of  industry,  commerce,  and 
labor  has  issued  a  circular  to  Mexican  consular  officers  requesting 
that  they  submit  full  data  relating  to  concerns  interested  in  Mexican 
products. — [Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Apr.  5, 
1919,  p.  124.] 

MONTENEGRO. 
Development  of  Agriculture. 

The  secretary  of  the  Montenegrin  general  directorate  of  agricul- 
ture is  at  present  in  Italy  for  the  purpose  of  studying  Italian  agri- 
cultural methods.  The  Montenegrin  Government  intends  to  take  in 
hand  the  development  of  agriculture,  as  the  best  means  to  bring 
about  a  rapid  solution  of  the  economic  problems  of  the  country. 
Agricultural  schools  are  to  be  opened,  and  agriculturists  are  to  be 
supplied  with  all  the  necessary  materials  which  are  to  be  purchased 
exclusively  in  Italy.— [II  Sole,  Dec.  30, 1918.] 

NETHERLANDS. 

Employment  Prospects. 

The  Chamber  of  Commerce  at  Groningen  has  appointed  a  com- 
mittee to  consider  whether  unemployment  was  likely  to  follow  demo- 
bilization. It  reported  that  it  was  of  the  opinion  that  various  raw 
materials  will  sooner  or  later  be  available  after  the  war ;  but  to  pro- 
vide against  imemployment  on  account  of  lack  of  raw  materials 
every  effort  should  be  made  to  speed  up  the  supply.  In  the  mean- 
time, they  suggest  public  works  as  a  way  out  of  the  difficulty. — 
[Nieuwe  Courant,  May  31, 1918.] 


NETHERLANDS.  1  OS- 

Economic  Independence. 

Holland  has  made  many  efforts  recently  to  render  herself  inde- 
pendent of  other  countries.  The  progress  of  the  lignite  industry  is 
noteworthy,  the  annual  output  reaching  roughly  1,000,000  tons.  A 
company  is  developing  the  nitrate  industry  (winning  nitrogen  from 
the  air).  Newly  discovered  phosphate  beds  are  being  worked  by  a 
consortium.  A  salt-mining  industry  has  been  started  which  will 
entirely  meet  all  demands  at  home.  The  recent  construction  of  the 
first  ferro-concrete  ship  in  Holland  has  led  to  the  erection  of  large 
mills  for  the  manufacture  of  ferro-concrete.  All  these  undertakings 
signify  the  beginning  of  completely  new  industries  in  Holland.  It 
has  been  recommended  that  the  director  and  managing  director  of 
any  company  actively  employed  in  Holland  shall  be  of  Dutch  nation- 
ality; that  the  majority  of  shares  be  held  by  Dutchmen;  and  that  in 
undertakings  of  peculiar  national  importance,  such  as  shipping  and 
mining,  the  State  should  be  represented. — [Welthandel,  Aug.  2, 1918.] 

Foreign  Trade  Regulations. 

In  July,  1918,  the  Government  appointed  a  special  economic  com- 
mission and  a  commission  for  the  promotion  of  foreign  trade. 
Shortly  afterwards  it  appointed  a  special  commission  for  the  pro- 
motion of  trade  relations  between  France  and  Holland.  The  cre- 
ation of  a  special  commission  for  Anglo-Dutch  trade  is  imminent. — 
[Welthandel,  Aug.  2,  1918.] 
Trade  after  the  War,  Planning  for. 

The  Netherlands  minister  of  foreign  affairs  installed  on  July  2 
the  advisory  commission  for  the  foreign  economic  information  serv- 
ice, which  will  act  as  an  advisory  body  to  the  minister  of  foreign 
affairs  and  will  be  specially  charged  with  developing  and  getting  the 
greatest  benefits  out  of  the  Netherlands  foreign  service. — [Com- 
merce Eeports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Sept.  3, 1918,  p.  853.] 

Transition  Economy. 

In  order  to  unify  the  economic  relations  and  negotiations  with 
foreign  countries,  a  board  will  be  formed  in  the  Dutch  ministry  of 
foreign  affairs  which  will  settle  all  economic  questions,  under  guid- 
ance and  responsibility  of  the  minister.  The  board  will  be  assisted 
by  an  advisory  council  on  which  a  representative  of  the  ministry  of 
agriculture  will  have  a  seat.  It  is  proposed  to  utilize  this  board  for 
resuming  negotiations  with  the  belligerent  powers.  Preparations 
will  also  be  made  by  it  for  the  duties  in  the  economic  sphere  that  will 
devolve  in  the  ministry  for  foreign  affairs  after  the  war. — [Weser- 
Zeitung,  Oct.  4,  1918.] 
Demobilization  of  the  Army. 

Everything  possible  is  being  done  in  Holland  to  forestall  idleness 
among  the  soldiers  of  the  Dutch  Army,  which  is  being  demobilized,. 


U06  POEEIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

The  Government  has  just  announced  that  soldiers  upon  whom  others 

are  dependent  for  support  will  receive  full  pay  for  a  period  of  60 

-days  from  th«  date  of  their  release.    Those  upon  whom  no  one  is 

dependent  will  be  assisted  financially  by  the  national  relief  commit- 

i;ee.     As  each  soldier  leaves  the  service  he  will  receive  one  new  pair 

of  shoes  and  one  new  suit  of  underclothing  from  the  military  stores. 

In  cases  of  necessity,  soldiers  returning  from  the  front  will  also  be 

able  to  obtain  from  the  national  relief  committee  reimbursement  for 

expenses  connected  with  the  moving  of  their  families  and  household 

•  effects  back  to  their  original  place  of  residence.    Special  measures  are 

to  be  taken  to  lend  temporary  financial  support  to  members  of  the 

-class  of  smaller  tradesmen,  arrangements  for  such  assistance  being 

made  by  the  national  relief  committee  and  the  necessary  funds  to  be 

furnished  by  the  State. 

The  Government  is  urging  all  employers  to  take  back  into  their 
employment  on  full  pay,  soldiers  who  are  now  returning  from  the 
army.  In  cases  where  employers  feel  themselves  financially  unable 
i:o  do  this,  it  is  urged  that  the  returning  men  should  receive  part  pay. 
Such  employees  will  also  be. able  to  secure  further  financial  assist- 
ance from  the  national  relief  committee. — [Report  of  U.  S.  commer- 
cial attache  at  The  Hague,  Dec.  8,«  1918 ;  Commerce  Reports,  U.  S. 
Dept.  of  Commerce,  Jan.  30,  1919,  p.  151.] 

Protection  against  Nationalization  of  Foreign  Trade. 

The  Dutch  bureau  of  foreign  commerce  has  appointed  a  commis- 
sion to  discuss  what  measures,  if  any,  should  be  adopted  to  protect 
the  Dutch  Indies  against  the  losses  which  are  likely  to  follow  from 
the  nationalization  of  foreign  trade  as  proposed  in  Russia  and  antici- 
pated by  many  in  Germany.  Such  centralization  of  foreign  trade 
will,  it  is  feared,  depress  the  prices  for  the  products  of  the  Dutch 
colonies,  and  the  only  countermeasure  is  an  increased  centralization 
of  the  export  from  these  parts.  The  Government  has  been  urged  to 
create  a  system  of  export  permits  and  to  introduce  a  compulsory 
trust  of  producers — [Deutscher  Aussenhandel,  Dec.  10,  1918.] 

Commerce  with  France. 

A  committee  of  Franco-Dutch  trade  intends  to  form  a  joint- stock 
-company  for  the  encouragement  of  trade  with  France.  A  similar 
company  is  to  be  formed  in  Paris.  The  Dutch  company  is  not  to 
carry  on  trade  itself,  but  is  only  to  give  its  shareholders  the  necessary 
facilities  for  trade  with  France.— [Welthandel,  Dec.  13,  1918.] 

"Government  Control  of  Shipping  Space. 

A  State  bureau  for  shipping  has  been  instituted  as  a  subbureau  of 
the  Netherlands  ministry  for  foreign  affairs.  This  bureau  will  have 
charge  for  making  arrangements  with  the  shipowners  with  a  view  to 
distributing  the  restricted  amount  of  shipping  space  according  to  the 


NEW  ZEALAND.  107 

import  needs  of  the  country.  It  will  take  over  all  functions  relative 
to  the  administration  of  the  ship  requisitions  and  ship  export  laws. — 
[Report  of  U.  S.  conmiercial  attache,  The  Hague,  Dec.  15,  1918; 
Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Jan.  30,  1919,  p.  461.] 

Shorter  Hours  and  Higher  Wages. 

Amsterdam  and  several  other  cities  in  Holland  are  reducing  the 
working  day  of  municipal  employees  from  nine  hours  or  more  to  eight 
hours;  simultaneously,  the  wages  of  such  employees  in  Amsterdam 
are  being  readjusted  on  a  higher  basis,  the  lowest  annual  pay  for  un- 
skilled labor  being  1,264  florins,  or  about  $508.  The  eight-hour  day 
has  also  been  established  by  several  Dutch  factories  during  the  past 
year. — [Report  of  U.  S.  consul,  Amsterdam,  Holland,  Dec.  21,  1918; 
Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Feb.  11,  1919,  p.  667.] 

NEW  ZEALAND. 

Aerial  Postal  Service. 

The  postmaster  general  for  New  Zealand  has  announced  that  at 
the  close  of  the  war  it  is  proposed  to  establish  an  aerial  mail  service 
in  that  Dominion  extending  from  Aukland  to  Dunedin,  a  distance  of 
about  700  miles. — [Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce, 
Dec.  20,  1918,  p.  1091.] 

Soldier-Settlement  Flan. 

Discharged  soldiers'  settlement  act,  1916,  amended  1917  (6,  Geo.  V. 
45,  1916),  provides  for  soldier  settlements.  Advances  will  be  made 
for  clearing,  etc.  An  appropriation  of  $3,000,000  has  been  made; 
276.000  acres  have  been  set  aside  and  will  be  let  out  on  a  66-year  lease 
or  freehold.  Training  can  be  obtained  at  State  farms.  It  is  desir- 
able that  applicants  have  some  capital. — ["  Work  and  Homes  for  our 
Fighting  Men,"  Reclamation  Service,  Dept.  of  the  Interior,  1919, 
pp.  20,  21.] 

Soldier  Land- Settlement  Scheme. 

The  New  Zealand  Government  has  outlined  a  very  generous  scheme 
for  the  resettling  of  returned  soldiers  on  the  land  in  this  Dominion, 
with  a  view  to  developing  the  very  large  tracts  of  wild  land  still 
found  in  different  parts  of  the  country. 

It  is  proposed  to  appropriate  1,000,000  pounds  ($4,866,500)  during 
the  coming  year  for  this  purpose,  which  is  to  be  used  partly  in  taking 
over  large  estates  and  dividing  them  into  small  allotments  and  in 
making  advancements  to  soldiers  in  order  to  give  them  funds  to 
begin  farming. — [Report  of  the  U.  S.  consul  general  at  Aukland, 
N.  Z.,  Nov.  28,.  1918;  Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce^ 
Jan.  10,  1919,  p.  139.] 


108  FOREIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

Proposed  Public  Improvements. 

The  New  Zealand  Government  proposes  to  place  loans  for  2,500,000 
pounds  ($12,166,250)  to  be  devoted  entirely  to  public  works,  which 
cover  railroad  construction,  arterial  highways  and  bridges,  public 
buildings,  and  the  preparation  of  plans  for  a  large  hydroelectric 
development  scheme  under  consideration.  Of  this  amount,  300,000 
pounds  are  to  be  allotted  for  school  buildings. — [Report  of  the  U.  S. 
consul  general  at  Aukland,  N.  Z.,  Nov.  28,  1918 ;  Commerce  Reports, 
U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Feb.  4,  1919,  p.  555.] 

Proposed  Development  Schemes. 

It  is  proposed  to  greatly  increase  the  railroad  mileage  in  the  Do- 
minion during  the  next  few  years,  and  to  enter  upon  a  special  cam- 
paign of  good-road  construction  in  order  to  develop  the  remoter 
sections.  Much  attention  is  given  to  more  efficient  agricultural 
methods,  and  it  is  proposed  to  organize  schools  of  instruction  along 
this  line  to  assist  the  returned  soldiers  in  making  the  most  of  the 
undeveloped  sections  of  the  Dominion.  It  is  also  proposed  to  ex- 
pend large  sums  of  money  on  the  drainage  of  extensive  tracts  of 
swamp  lands. — [Report  of  the  U.  S.  consul  general  at  Aukland, 
N.  Z.,  Nov.  28,  1918;  Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce. 
Feb.  4,  1919,  p.  555.] 

Profiteering. 

A  report  just  issued  by  the  interstate  commerce  commission  in 
Wellington,  New  Zealand,  claims  that  the  enormous  rise  during  the 
war  in  prices  of  articles  of  wear  was  due  not  to  increased  wages  and 
cost  of  materials,  but  to  the  fact  that  manufacturers  and  dealers 
took  advantage  of  the  public  to  increase  their  profits,  which  were 
double  or  treble  those  of  1914  in  each  of  the  years  of  the  war. — 
[The  Public,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Mar.  29,  1919,  p.  333.] 

NORWAY. 

Norwegian-American  Exhibition  at  Christiania. 

According  to  a  circular  sent  out  by  the  Norges  Handels  og 
Sjefartstidende  (Norwegian  Mercantile  and  Shipping  Gazette), 
efforts  are  being  made  to  hold  an  exposition  in  Christiania  of  Ameri- 
can-made goods  in  the  summer  of  1919.  The  purpose,  as  expressed 
in  the  circular,  will  be  "  to  give  a  comprehensive  survey  of  the  present 
coromercial  relations  and  to  form  further  connection  between  the 
United  States  and  Norway." — [Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of 
Commerce,  Jan.  24, 1919,  p.  281.] 
Copartnership  for  Industrial  Peace. 

The  Norwegian  Parliament  recently  set  up  a  committee  to  inquire 
into  the  pros  and  cons  of  copartnership  as  a  means  of  securing  in- 


PAN  AMERICA.  109 

dustrial  peace.  The  committee  is  composed  of  employers  and  labor 
representatives  with  a  few  outside  experts. — [The  Survey,  New  York, 
N.  Y.,  Jan.  25,  1919,  p.  559.] 

PANAMA   CANAL. 

Reestablishment  of  Radio  Service. 

The  restrictions  which  were  placed  on  radio  service  in  Canal  Zone 
waters  during  the  war  have  been  removed.  However,  the  Canal  Zone 
radio  stations  are  as  yet  open  to  commercial  traffic  only  with  the 
United  States,  British,  and  neutral  vessels. — [Commerce  Reports, 
U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Jan.  15,  1919,  p.  218.] 

PAN  AMERICA. 

A  Pan  American  Federation  of  Labor. 

A  movement  for  a  better  understanding  and  closer  cooperation 
among  organized  labor  bodies  of  the  countries  of  America  has  been 
under  way  for  some  time;  and  in  May,  1918,  the  American  Federa- 
tion of  Labor  sent  to  Mexico  a  commission  of  three  members  to  in- 
terest Mexican  organized  labor  in  a  proposed  labor  conference  at 
Laredo,  Tex.,  between  representatives  of  the  organized  labor  move- 
ment of  Mexico  and  representatives  of  the  American  Federation  of 
Labor.  The  visit  of  the  commission  occurred  just  after  the  close  of 
a  Mexican  labor  convention  held  at  Saltillo,  Coahuila,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  establishing  a  Mexican  federation  of  labor ;  and  the  members 
of  the  commission  found  much  interest  manifested  in  the  object  of 
their  visit.  Mexican  labor  unions  were  invited  to  send  delegates  to 
the  St.  Paul  convention  of  the  American  Federation  of  Labor;  but 
since  the  delegates  arrived  too  late  to  participate,  a  formal  meeting 
of  the  Pan  American  Federation  of  Labor  conference  committee  was 
held  for  their  benefit  at  Washington,  D.  C.  The  date  for  the  Inter- 
national Labor  Conference  at  Laredo,  Tex.,  was  set  for  November 
13-16,  1919.  All  the  organizations  of  labor  in  Mexico  have  been 
invited  to  send  delegates,  and  many  have  accepted  the  invitation. — 
[Monthly  Labor  Review,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor,  November,  1918,  pp. 
257,  258,  259.] 
Establishment  of  Temperance  Zones. 

The  President  has  issued  a  decree  establishing  temperance  zones 
in  Paraguay,  the  first  official  movement  of  any  character  to  restrict 
the  manufacture  and  sale  of  distilled  liquors  in  the  country.  The 
movement  was  initiated  by  the  American  meat-packing  companies 
that  have  recently  opened  plants  in  this  country.  The  companies 
had  already  prohibited  the  use  and  sale  of  liquor  on  their  premises, 
but  employees  were  able  to  make  purchases  from  the  numerous  small 
liquor  stands  put  up  in  the  vicinity. — [Coromerce  Reports,  U.  S. 
Dept.  of  Commerce,  Apr.  25,  1919,  p.  549.] 


110  FOREIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

PERU. 

Foreign  Commerce. 

The  minister  of  the  treasury  has  submitted  to  the  Peruvian  Con- 
gress a  proposal  to  establish  a  bureau  of  commerce  in  his  department 
for  the  purpose  of  handling  the  increased  demand  for  such  a  service 
arising  from  the  rapid  growth  of  the  foreign  commerce  of  Peru. — 
[Commerce  Eeports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Dec.  19, 1918,  p.  1085.] 

Finance. 

The  United  States  Federal  Reserve  Board  announces  that  Peru  has 
established  a  bank  credit  of  $15,000,000  here  to  aid  foreign  trade  be- 
tween Peru  and  United  States. —  [Post,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  28, 
1918.] 

Exchange  Situation. 

The  Peruvian  currency  law,  which  became  effective  in  September 
last  and  fixed  the  legal  rate  at  which  all  transactions  in  exchange  on 
New  York  and  London  must  be  conducted,  has  stabilized  the  exchange 
situation  in  Peru.  Transactions  in  exchange  on  other  countries  and 
in  other  currencies  than  American  and  British  have  not  been  re- 
stricted in  the  same  manner,  resulting  in  the  development  of  active 
trading  on  Paris,  Italian,  and  Spanish  financial  centers. — [U.  S.  con- 
sul general,  Callao-Lima,  Peru,  Dec.  24,  1918;  Commerce  Reports, 
U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Jan.  24,  1919,  p.  371.] 

POLAND. 

Reconstruction  Organization. 

At  a  conference  held  in  Warsaw  between  the  various  depart- 
mental heads  of  the  Polish  Government,  the  chief  of  the  reconstruc- 
tion department  of  the  liquidation  commission  presented  a  state- 
ment, based  on  extensive  statistics,  of  the  reconstruction  of  Galicia; 
and  submitted  a  project  for  the  organization  of  a  central  recon- 
struction office  as  an  interministerial  authority,  with  headquarters  in 
Warsaw.  The  conference  appointed  a  commission  of  three  who  are 
to  deliver  at  a  later  meeting  the  completed  project  for  the  new 
organization.  The  most  important  financial  institutions  in  the  three 
sections  of  Poland  have  expressed  their  readiness  to  support  the 
work  of  reconstruction. — [Nowa  Reforma,  Nov.  30, 1918.] 

Reconstruction  Measures. 

At  a  conference  attended  by  all  the  ministers,  recently  held  in 
Warsaw  at  the  ministry  of  labor,  to  discuss  questions  of  reconstruc- 
tion and  of  giving  work  to  the  unemployed,  the  problem  of  the  organi- 
zation of  a  ministry  of  public  works  and  reconstruction  came  under 
discussion;  also  the  question  of  employment.     It  was  resolved  to 


PORTUGAL.  Ill 

make  a  proposition  to  the  council  of  ministers  to  open  a  permanent 
interministerial  commission  for  dealing  with  economic  problems  and, 
dependent  upon  this,  an  economic  department  to  secure  raw  materials 
and  thereby  ensure  the  unification  of  the  economic  policy  during  the 
period  of  transition.  As  regards  the  question  of  unemployment  the 
interministerial  commission  has  laid  before  the  council  of  ministers 
statistics  showing  that  works  can  be  put  in  hand  at  once,  specifying 
the  number  of  workmen  required  for  each  branch.  The  council  of 
ministers  approved  the  immediate  starting  of  the  most  necessary 
work,  and  assigned  250,000,000  marks  for  the  purpose. — [Nowa^ 
Reforma,  Dec.  7,  1918.] 

State  and  Industrial  Undertakings. 

The  industry  handicraft  and  commerce  department  of  the  liquida- 
tion commission  has  founded  a  directorate  of  State  industrial  insti- 
tutions, which  is  to  take  over  for  the  Polish  State  all  industrial  con- 
cerns and  their  warehouses  (except  the  mining,  institutions,  iron 
foundries,  and  monopolies,  which  will  be  managed  by  the  State), 
especially  those  organized  under  the  military  and  civil  Austrian 
authorities  in  the  Provinces  which  now  form  part  of  Poland.  The 
directorate  will  take  charge  of  the  administration  and  activities  of 
these  institutions  and  insure  their  being  utilized  for  the  greatest 
possible  public  good. — [Nowa  Reforma,  Dec.  11,  1918.] 

Financial  Development. 

The  economic  development  of  Polish  financial  institutions  is  pro- 
gressing, and  her  banking  system  is  being  reorganized  by  the  Polish 
National  Bank.  Many  banks,  mining  companies,  and  foundries  are 
raising  their  capital,  it  being  supplied  by  Polish  capitalists.  These 
and  other  similar  institutions  are  carrying  on  the  moblization  of 
Polish  capital,  and  a  sound  economic  development  may  be  hoped  for 
in  the  country.  The  liquidation  commission  is  appealing  to  private 
owners  of  gold  and  silver  articles  which  are  damaged  or  useless  to 
give  these  objects  to  the  State,  as  they  will  provide  a  store  of  precious 
metals  which  will  be  of  use  as  a  foundation  for  future  currency.  In 
case  of  limited  means  on  the  part  of  holders  of  such  articles,  the 
testing  office  in  Cracow  will  pay  their  value  in  kronen,  according  to 
the  exchange  now  obtaining. — [Glos  Narodu,  Jan.  19,  1919.] 

PORTUGAL. 

Portuguese-American  Trade. 

Many  large  Portugese  firms  are  sending  representatives  to  the 
United  States  to  arrange,  in  addition  to  present  business,  connections; 
for  after-the-war  trade. — [Commerce  Reports,  U.  S..  D^pt.  of  Com- 
merce, Sept.  30,  1918,  p.  1189.] 


112  FOEEIGN  KE ADJUSTMENT  AND  KECONSTRUCTION. 

Bounties  for  Cereal  Cultivation. 

In  order  to  stimulate  agricultural  production  in  the  Republic,  the 
Portuguese  Government  has  recently  issued  a  decree  providing  for 
the  granting  of  bounty  to  cultivators  of  wheat,  maize,  or  rye  in  re- 
spect of  the  1919  and  following  crops,  up  to  one  year  after  the 
termination  of  the  war;  a  bounty  of  4  escudoes  for  every  kilogram 
of  wheat;  and  3  escudoes  for  every  kilogram  of  maize  in  excess  of 
the  harvest  of  1918  being  granted.  Praprietors  or  lessees  who,  in 
the  agricultural  year  1918  and  the  following  year  up  to  a  year  after 
the  termination  of  the  war,  proved  that  they  have  sown  or  cultivated 
waste  lands  in  wheat,  maize,  rye,  rice,  peas,  chickpeas,  or  potatoes 
will  be  granted  a  bounty  of  10  escudoes  per  hectare.  Owners  of 
vineyards  who  during  this  period  produce  in  their  vineyards  any  of 
the  above-mentioned  products  will  be  granted  a  bounty  of  3  escudoes 
per  hectare.  Buyers  of  waste  or  farm  lands  to  be  put  under  cultiva- 
tion within  three  years  will  be  exempted  from  payment  of  the  land 
registration  tax.  The  decree  also  fixes  maximum  prices  for  the  sale 
of  oats,  barley,  peas,  potatoes,  chickpeas,  and  hay. — [Diario  do 
Ooverno,  Sept.  25,  1918;  British  Board  of  Trade  Journal,  Oct.  10, 
1918,  p.  461.] 

RUSSIA. 

Economic  Control  and  Regulation  of  Industry. 

A  report  submitted  to  the  fifth  All-Kussian  Congress  of  Soviets 
hj  the  peoples'  commissary  for  commerce  and  industry,  points  out 
that  the  new  regime  has  introduced  the  principle  of  economic  con- 
trol and  regulation  of  industry,  a  novel  principle  in  modern  history. 
According  to  the  report  it  was  introduced  at  first  as  a  result  of  the 
deliberate  sabotage  on  the  part  of  the  capitalist  class,  necessitating, 
as  it  did,  the  assumption  of  control  of  the  abandoned  factories  and 
works.  Everywhere  local  labor  or  Soviet  organizations  formed 
special  bodies  to  take  over  and  control  the  thus  disorganized  in- 
dustry, after  which  economic  councils  emerged  as  a  uniform  type 
of  such  bodies,  culminating  in  the  formation  of  the  supreme  economic 
council.  Russia's  foreign  trade  was  nationalized  by  decree  of  April 
22,  1918.— [Isvestiya,  July  12,  1918.] 
Economic  Policy. 

The  principles  approved  by  the  All-Russian  Congress  of  the 
Economic  Councils  comprise  nationalization  of  foreign  trade,  of 
private  commercial  capital,  of  the  national  economy  as  defined 
by  the  authorities  which  regulate  production  and  distribution,  and 
elimination  of  private  trade.  In  order  to  insure  a  fair  distribution 
of  existing  supplies,  in  accordance  with  the  home  economy  policy, 
all  foreign  orders,  those  of  the  war  office  included,  must  be  placed 


KUSSIA.  113 

with  the  foreign  trade  council,  to  jwhom  also  is  entrusted  the 
settlement  of  the  following  questions :  Currency ;  estimates  and  dis- 
tribution of  cargo  space ;  ocean-transport  insurance ;  storehouses  and 
elevators;  securities;  customs. — [Kolnische  Zeitung,  Aug.  14,  1918.] 

Poreign  Trade  After  the  War. 

Kussia's  foreign  trade  will  necessarily  be  changed  from  the  former 
private  organization  to  one  controlled  by  the  Government.  It  is 
suggested  in  the  Petrograd  Trade  and  Commerce  Gazette,  June  8, 
1918,  that  the  future  economic  program  should  be  to  develop  an 
export  business  in  manufactured  articles  rather  than  in  agricultural 
and  other  raw  materials. — [Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Com- 
merce, Sept  30,  1918,  p.  1190.] 
German  Commercial  Interests  in  Baltic  Provinces. 

A  German  conmiittee  of  experts  has  traveled  in  the  Russian  Baltic 
Provinces  studying  conditions  for  the  purpose  of  suggesting  meas- 
ures for  developing  the  agriculture  of  the  districts  and  their  means 
of  communication. —  [Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce, 
Sept.  30,  1918,  p.  1213.] 

Swedish  Commercial  Interests  in  Russia. 

The  Swedish  General  Exporters'  Association  has  taken  the  initia- 
tive for  the  establishment  of  a  Swedish  forwarding  office  in  Russia 
and  has  directed  attention  to  Russia's  possibilities  for  Swedish  com- 
mercial interests. — [Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce, 
Sept.  30,  1918,  p.  1216.] 

Foreign  Trade. 

The  president  of  the  supreme  administration  of  the  northern  region 
published  a  decree  concerning  the  foreign  trade  of  North  Russia. 
An  interdepartmental  committee  has  been  organized  to  determine  the 
conditions  of  the  market  and  water  transport.  It  will  get  up  a  gen- 
eral plan  and  organization  af  foreign  trade  and  determine  a  scheme 
of  foreign  exchange.  Methods  will  be  devised  for  the  supply  and  dis- 
tribution of  exported  and  imported  goods  and  produce  in  the  north- 
em  region.  Reports  will  be  drawn  up  as  to  what  transport  is  avail- 
able for  cargoes  of  supplies  for  export  and  import  by  sea,  river,*  rail, 
and  ordinary  roads.  It  will  fix  prices  and  determine  to  what  de- 
partments, public  organizations,  private  persons,  and  corporations, 
produce  and  goods  shall  be  delivered.  Cargoes  delivered  for  mili- 
tary purposes  and  needs  will  not  come  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the 
committee.— [Official  Vestnik,  Oct.  5,  1918.] 

Nationalization  of  Insurance  System. 

The  subject  of  nationalization  of  the  insurance  business  is  coming 
promptly  forward  and  a  committee  intrusted  with  settling  the  ques- 
115488—19 8 


114  FOREIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

tion  is  reported  to  have  decided  in  favor  of  dissolving  the  private 
companies  and  nationalizing  the  whole  insurance  system.  It  also 
considered  the  question  of  compulsory  insurance  without  arriving  at 
a  decision. — [Zeitschrift  ftir  Versicherungswesen,  Nov.  19, 1918.] 

Activities  of  the  TTnited  States  Russian  Bureau. 

The  War  Trade  Board  of  the  United  States-Russian  Bureau,  In- 
corporated, is  a  company  which  has  been  engaged  by  the  United 
States  War  Trade  Board  at  the  direction  of  the  President  of  the 
United  States,  for  the  purpose  of  helping  the  Russians  to  help  them- 
selves in  stabilizing  the  economic  situation  in  Russia.  It  has  a  capital 
stock  of  $5,000,000,  all  of  which  has  been  issued  and  fully  paid  in 
cash  out  of  Government  funds.  The  stock  is  owned  entirely  by  the 
United  States  Government. — [Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of 
Commerce,  Nov.  30,  1918,  p.  826.] 

Finance. 

Bankers  in  Allied  countries,  together  with  one  New  York  bank, 
have  formed  the  State  Bank  of  the  Northern  District  of  Russia,  with 
offices  in  Archangel,  to  operate  in  fields  dominated  by  Allied  Armies. 
Currency,  with  initial  value  of  40  rubles  to  the  pound  sterling,  will 
be  issued  against  Russian  gold  on  deposit  with  the  Bank  of  England. 
This  will  give  the  ruble  a  value  for  the  present  of  about  12  cents. — 
[Wall  Street  Journal,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  18, 1918.] 

Russian-Pacific  Trade  Expansion. 

The  journal  of  the  Russo- American  Committee  for  the  Far  East 
was  begun  in  August,  1918,  in  Vladivostok,  Siberia.    It  is  printed 
partly  in  English  and  partly  in  Russian. — [Commerce  Reports,  U.  S. 
Dept.  of  Commerce,  Dec.  23,  1918,  p.  1121.] 
Mobilization  of  Food  Supply. 

The  Moscow  Government  has  published  a  decree  which  places  all 
the  land  fit  for  sowing  grain,  and  not  already  used  by  individuals 
or  cooperative  organizations,  at  the  disposition  of  the  State,  which 
will  arrange  for  the  sowing.  Any  individual  or  collective  use  of  this 
land  in  the  year  1919  can  be  made  only  on  the  authorization  of  peo- 
ple's commissaries  and  local  organizations.  The  Moscow  Govern- 
ment has  decided  to  take  immediate  measures  to  carry  out  the  mobili- 
zation of  food-supply  workers,  in  order  that  the  work  of  collect- 
ing food  products  may  not  be  hindered  by  the  absence  of  workers. — 
[Times,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  15,  1919.]' 

Finance. 

Reports  from  the  Russian  Government  at  Omsk  indicate  that  cus- 
toms and  excise  receipts  are  increasing  rapidly  and  that  the  Govern- 
ment is  able  to  collect  taxes  on  realty.  The  minister  of  agriculture 
announced  that  the  agrarian  problem  will  be  solved  through  the 


KUSSIA-SIBEKIA.  115 

division  of  land  among  peasants,  giving  small  land  holders  a  chance 
to  extend  property  on  their  merits. — [Wall   Street  Journal,  New 
York,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  6,  1919.] 
Industrial  Control. 

To  prevent  the  industrial  conquest  of  Kussia  by  Germany,  the 
American-Russian  Chamber  of  Commerce,  in  cooperation  with  the 
College  of  the  City  of  New  York,  is  presenting  a  series  of  lectures 
on  the  situation  in  Russia.  These  organizations  declare  that  it  is 
vitally  important  to  the  United  States  and  the  Allies  that  they  pre- 
vent German  influence  in  Russia.  They  state  that  Russia  to-day 
holds  the  political  and  economic  balance  of  power  in  Europe;  that 
as  a  result  of  the  war  and  the  Bolshevik  upheaval  Russia  has  not 
only  ceased  to  be  the  granary  of  Europe  but  presents  an  appalling 
picture  of  famine ;  and  if  Russia  in  her  present  disorganized  condi- 
tion is  left  to  drift  we  can  expect  the  restoration  of  absolutism,  pro- 
tected, organized,  and  guided  by  Germany.  Another  great  menace  of 
the  war  looms  ahead  if  Russia  is  left  to  be  reorganized  by  Germans. — 
[Sun,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  14,  1919.] 

Industrial  Reconstruction. 

Catherine  Breshkovskaya  in  her  testimony  before  the  United 
States  Senate  propaganda  inquiry  committee  pleaded  earnestly  that 
America  send  machinery  and  other  materials  to  Russia  at  once  to 
aid  in  an  industrial  reconstruction,  which  she  said  would  result  in 
ridding  the  nation  of  the  Bolshevik  burden.  She  further  stated  that 
if  the  Bolsheviki  are  not  put  down  it  will  mean  the  domination  of 
Russia  by  Germany  and  Japan  and  that  these  two  rivals  will  divide 
Russia  between  them. — [Star,  Washington,  D.  C,  Feb.  15,  1919.] 

RUSSIA-SIBERIA. 

Siberian  Railway. 

The  Acting  United  States  Secretary  of  State  announced  that  the 
United  States  had  accepted  formally  the  proposal  of  the  eJapanese 
Government  in  regard  to  plans  for  the  restoration  of  railway  traffic 
in  Siberia.  The  purpose  of  the  agreement  is  to  assist  the  Russians 
in  Siberia  in  regaining  their  normal  conditions  of  life,  and  it  has  been 
made  upon  a  definite  understanding  that  the  railways  are  to  be 
operated  for  the  interests  of  the  peoples  of  Siberia.  Neither  the 
United  States  nor  Japan  are  infringing  on  any  existing  right,  either 
of  Russia  or  China.  Technical  and  economical  management  of  the 
railways  will  be  in  the  hands  of  a  technical  board,  the  president  of 
which  will  be  the  former  head  of  the  American  Railway  Commission 
sent  to  Russia  in  1917.  A  military  board  will  coordinate  matters 
affecting  military  transportation  arising  from  the  presence  in  Russia 
of  military  forces  of  the  United  States  and  the  Allies. — [Post,  Wash- 
ington, D.  C,  Feb.  11, 1919.] 


116  FOREIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

Industry  Under  the  Soviets. 

The  official  neAvspaper,  Izvestiya,  says  that  nationalization  of 
industry  and  trade  has  not  prevented  incessant  strikes.  Forty-two 
per  cent  of  the  workmen  engaged  in  State  undertakings,  including 
transport,  struck  work  at  least  once  in  1918.  Wages  in  a  group  of 
industries,  including  iron  and  coal  mines,  sawmills,  electrical  and 
machine  works,  and  soap  factories,  rose  173  per  cent  between  August 
1,  1918,  and  January  1,  1919.  The  rise  in  prices  of  necessities  during 
the  last  six  months  of  1918  was  about  145  per  cent  everywhere,  except 
in  the  big  cities,  where  it  was  considerably  more.  The  State  soap 
industry  lost  1,846,000  rubles  in  the  three  months,  July-September. 
Five  other  industries  lost  6,789,000  rubles  in  the  same  time,  wdth  a 
further  loss  of  5,700,000  rubles  on  depreciation  of  plants.  While  the 
State  shoe  factories  and  clothing  factories  are  working  somewhat 
more  satisfactorily,  they  also  are  run  at  a  loss.  However,  "  they  have 
exceeded  hopes  in  satisfying  the  barefooted,  half -naked  population." 
In  Moscow,  high  boots  of  the  kind  usually  worn  by  peasants  are 
produced  at  245  rubles  a  pair,  but  the  upper  leggings  are  made  of  a 
substitute — impregnated  canvas.  "Lack  of  manufacturing  experts 
and  a  surplus  of  bureaucrats  and  inspectors,"  says  Izvestiya,  "  is 
the  curse  of  our  system  of  State  nationalization.  Attempts  must  be 
made  to  get  trained  workmen  who  will  act  as  foremen,  and  to  reduce 
the  vast  army  of  clerks  and  bookkeepers."  As  an  instance  of  this 
evil  it  is  pointed  out  that  in  two  of  the  largest  State  shoe  factories 
there  are  two  members  of  the  clerical  staff  for  every  five  workmen. — 
[Standard  Daily  Trade  Service,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Apr.  16,  1919, 
p.  113.] 

SCANDINAVIAN   COUNTRIES. 

Economic  Cooperation,  Scheme  for. 

The  permanent  Scandinavian  Economic  Committee  at  a  recent 
meeting  elected  a  subcommittee  consisting  of  two  Norwegians,  two 
Swedes,  and  two  Danes  to  work  out  in  detail  proposals  for  the  fur- 
ther development  of  economic  cooperation  between  the  three  coun-  , 
tries.  A  large  central  purchasing  office  is  to  be  established,  with 
headquarters  probably  in  Copenhagen. — [Deutscher  Aussenhandel, 
Sept.  25,  1918.] 

Association  for  Protection  of  Eights  After  the  War. 

Representatives  of  shipping  and  commercial  interests  from  all 
Scandanavia  have  been  meeting  in  Copenhagen  to  form  an  associa- 
tion for  the  general  protection  of  their  rights  after  the  war. — [Com- 
merce Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Dec.  18,  1918,  p.  1065.] 


SOUTH  AFRICA.  117 

SIBERIA. 

Shipping  Service,  Renewal  of. 

The  various  steamship  companies  that  formerly  operated  regular 
steamers  between  Vladivostok,  and  Canadian  and  United  States 
ports  are  considering  the  reestablishment  of  their  services. — [Com- 
merce Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Oct.  30,  1918,  p.  414.] 

SOUTH  AFRICA. 

Disabled  Soldiers  and  Their  Dependents,  Assistance  to;   Vocational  Education. 

Appeals  are  being  made  in  the  South  African  press  for  further 
subscriptions  to  the  Governor-General's  Fund.  This  is  a  national 
fund  and  recognizes  no  distinction  of  province  or  race.  All  South 
African  soldiers  and  their  dependents  are  entitled  to  be  helped  from  it 
according  to  their  needs.  It  was  started  in  September,  1914,  and  is 
administered  by  an  executive  committee  which  works  through  more 
than  100  local  committees  distributed  throughout  the  Union.  The 
objects  of  the  fund  are  to  alt'ord  assistance  to  the  dependents  of  men 
serving  in  the  field,  to  discharged  and  disabled  soldiers,  and  to  de- 
pendents of  those  who  fall. 

Vocational  training  is  carried  on  for  the  most  part  at  the  South 
African  Hospital,  Richmond,  at  the  expense  of  the  fund.  Similar 
institutions  and  classes  have  been  started  elsewhere.  Temporary  help 
is  given  by  the  fund  to  discharged  men  and  their  families  while  em- 
ployment is  being  sought. 

One  local  branch  of  the  fund  has  a  special  department  for  assist- 
ing discharged  men  to  get  their  pensions  put  on  the  right  basis  so  far 
as  the  pension  act  allows.  Up  to  the  end  of  April,  1918,  the  fund 
amounted  to  1,750,000  pounds. — [Rand  Daily  Mail,  Johannesburg, 
July  12,  1918.] 
Discharged  Soldiers,  Finding  Employment  for. 

The  assistant  director  of  the  returned  soldiers  central  employment 
bureau,  Pretoria,  stated  in  an  interview  that  12,000  men  had  been 
placed  in  employment  through  the  efforts  of  the  returned  soldiers 
committees,  of  which  there  are  36  in  different  parts  of  the  Union. 

At  the  beginning  of  1917,  a  circular  letter  was  issued  to  all  recruit- 
ing and  Governor-General  Fund  committees  announcing  that  the 
Government  had  decided  to  establish  a  central  employment  bureau 
and  asking  for  the  cooperation  of  these  local  bodies.  The  system 
to  be  followed  was  outlined,  the  idea  being  to  coordinate  the  efforts 
of  all  committees  so  that  districts  with  unfilled  vacancies  could  be 
placed  in  communication  with  others  which  had  suitable  men. — 
[Cape  Times,  July  26, 1918.] 


118  FOREIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

Timber  Resources. 

The  industrial  advisory  board  has  made  a  report  on  the  question  of 
making  the  timber  resources  of  the  Union  of  South  Africa  available 
for  general  industrial  purposes. — [Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept. 
of  Commerce,  Sept.  30, 1918,  p.  1215.] 

Soldier  Settlement. 

The  land-settlement  act,  1912,  and  amendments,  1917,  provide  for 
soldier  settlements.  Provisions  of  the  act  are  administered  by  the 
minister  of  lands  and  land  boards.  Loans  of  $1,250  on  stock  and 
equipment,  and  advances  up  to  $25  per  month  are  made  to  families. 
Loans  and  advances  can  be  repaid  in  3^  and  7  years.  4^^  per  cent  in- 
terest is  charged.  Appropriations  by  the  provincial  parliament  have 
been  made  for  purchase  of  private  lands  at  prices  not  to  exceed  $7,500 
for  each  settler  who  furnishes  one-fifth  of  the  price.  Settlers  will 
each  be  given  a  lease  for  5  years  and  option  to  purchase  at  price  fixed 
at  time  of  lease,  with  20  years  to  pay.  There  will  be  no  rent  the  first 
year ;  the  second  and  third  years  it  will  be  2  per  cent ;  the  fourth  and 
fifth  years,  3^  per  cent;  and  the  sixth  to  tenth  years,  4  per  cent. 
Training  will  be  provided. — ["  Work  and  Homes  for  Our  Fighting 
Men";  Reclamation  Service,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  the  Interior,  1919,  pp. 
20,21.] 

SPAIN. 
N'ationalization  of  Railways. 

The  Espana  Economica  y  Financiera  announces  that  the  Spanish 
Government  intends  to  issue  a  loan  for  2  or  3  billion  pesos  in  order 
to  take  over  the  Spanish  railways  and  to  build  new  branch  lines. — 
[Norddeutsche  Allgemeine  Zeitung,  May  14,  1918.] 

Economic  Program  of  the  Spanish  Government. 

The  minister  of  public  works  has  outlined  to  the  Spanish  press  the 
steps  which  the  Government  hopes  to  take  in  order  to  set  in  motion 
the  work  of  Spain's  economic  reconstitution. 

A  commission  has  been  appointed  by  the  Spanish  Minister  of  Fi- 
nance which  will  work  out  a  comprehensive  economic  program,  which 
includes : 

1.  The  purchase  of  the  railroads  and  their  operation  by  the  State. 

2.  The  utilization  of  the  waterfalls  for  motive  power. 

3.  A  special  mining  law  providing  for  the  participation  of  the 
State  in  "  extra  profits." 

4.  The  creation  of  a  national  industrial  bank. 

5.  The  rebuilding  of  the  nation's  industries. 

[Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Aug.  28,  1918, 
p.  788 ;  Nov.  6, 1918,  p.  507.] 


STKAITS  SETTLEMENTS.  119 

Organization  for  Post-War  Competition. 

A  Congress  of  Civil  Engineers  will  be  convened  in  the  spring  of 
1919,  the  object  of  which  will  be  "  the  organization  of  Spanish  civil 
engineers  for  their  mutual  benefit  and  the  development  of  their  re- 
sources to  enable  them  to  compete  efficaciously  in  large  enterprises 
that  will  be  undertaken  after  the  war."  A  study  will  be  made  of 
Spanish  production  in  its  relation  to  other  countries,  etc. — [Com- 
merce Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Nov.  8, 1918,  p.  529.] 

Possibilities  of  Commercial  Expansion,  Investigation  of. 

A  commission  of  engineers  has  been  appointed  by  royal  order  to 
study  the  actual  state  and  probable  development  of  the  metallurgical 
industries  in  the  Republics  of  South  America,  including  an  investiga- 
tion of  the  possibilities  of  Spanish  commercial  expansion,  the  mar- 
kets for  Spanish  metallurgical  products,  and  the  procuring  of  raw 
materials.  The  creation  of  this  commission  is  regarded  in  Spain  as 
necessary  to  domestic  economy  in  preparation  for  the  time  when 
peace  will  have  put  commerce  on  a  normal  footing. — [Report  of  U.  S. 
consul  general  at  Barcelona.  Spain,  Nov.  10,  1918;  Commerce  Re- 
ports, U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Jan.  6, 1919,  p.  63.] 
Opportunities  for  Investment  of  American  Capital. 

The  following  is  an  abstract  of  a  statement  recently  made  in  con- 
ference by  a  high  Spanish  authority : 

The  time  has  never  been  so  opportune  as  it  is  at  the  present  mo- 
ment to  establish  broad  commercial  bonds  between  Spain  and  the 
United  States.     This  is  for  several  reasons : 

1.  The  very  great  prestige  which  the  United  States  has  gained  in 
the  eyes  of  Spain,  due  to  the  wonderful  success  that  was  attained  in 
connection  with  the  war. 

2.  The  very  great  need  in  Spain  of  importing  certain  raw  mate- 
rials, but  more  particularly  manufactured  articles  to  replace  used-up 
stock  and  equipment  (railways,  trainways,  factories,  etc.). 

3.  The  need  of  a  larger  outlet  for  Spain's  own  exports. 

4.  The  vital  need  of  the  development  of  Spain's  own  industries 
through  financial  support  from  outside. — [Commerce  Reports,  U.  S. 
Dept.  of  Commerce,  Jan.  25,  1919,  p.  397.] 

STRAITS   SETTLEMENTS. 

New  Steamship  Lines  to  the  "United  States. 

Several  new  lines  of  direct  steamship  communication  between 
Singapore  and  the  United  States  ports  are  being  added  to  those 
already  in  operation,  with  the  result  that  the  facilities  for  the  carry- 
ing of  trade  between  the  United  States  and  this  important  port  and 


120  rOEEIGN  KEADJUSTMENT  AND  KECONSTRUCTION. 

trade  center  will  be  vastly  increased  in  the  near  future. — [Report  of 
U.  S.  consul  general,  Singapore,  Nov.  22,  1918,  Commerce  Reports, 
U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Jan.  25,  1919,  p.  390.] 

SWEDEN. 

Foreign  Service  Reorganization. 

The  assistant  secretary  of  state  announces  that  the  foreign  service  of 
Sweden  is  to  be  reorganized ;  the  diplomatic  and  consular  services  are 
to  be  amalgamated.  Many  additional  commercial  attache  positions 
will  be  established  throughout  the  world. — [Official  IT.  S.  Bulletin, 
Feb.  14,  1919.] 

Foreign  Trade,  Resumption  of. 

A  central  council  of  export  industry  has  been  formed  at  the  instance 
of  the  general  export  association  and  of  the  industrial  association. — 
[Der  Welthandel,  May  31,  1918.] 

High  Cost  of  Building. 

The  price  of  building  materials  of  all  kinds  has  risen  between  400 
and  500  per  cent,  and  this  is  hampering  house  building,  the  need  for 
which  is  great,  especially  in  the  large  cities  where  there  is  much  con- 
gestion. A  municipal  committee  in  Stockholm  has  recommended 
that,  to  bring  down  prices,  export  duties  should  be  imposed  on  wood 
and  iron.  The  committee  further  suggests  that  import  of  such  ma- 
terial be  duty  free,  and  that  a  bounty  on  imports  be  paid,  the 
expenditure  to  be  covered  out  of  the  yield  of  the  export  duties. — 
[Standard  Daily  Trade  Service,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Mar.  4,  1919, 
p.  438.] 

SWITZERLAND. 

National  Trade-Mark  for  Swiss  Exports. 

A  syndicate  named  "  Spes"  (Syndicat  pour  I'Exportation  Suisse) 
has  been  formed  under  the  auspices  of  the  Chambers  of  Commerce 
of  Basle,  Geneva,  and  Zurich  for  the  purpose  of  encouraging  the 
export  of  Swiss  products.  Goods  of  purely  Swiss  origin  will  be 
marked  with  the  trade-mark  "  Spes."  Any  Swiss  producer  of  trade 
commodities  may  belong  to  the  syndicate,  provided  he  has  fulfilled 
the  statutory  conditions  regarding  the  Swiss  origin  of  his  goods,  the 
capital  employed,  and  the  persons  engaged  in  their  production. — 
[Der  Welthandel,  May  31,  1918.] 

Electrification  of  Railways. 

In  order  to  avoid  in  future  the  political  awkwardness  and  danger 
arising  from  dependence  on  foreign  countries  for  the  fuel  needed  in 
operating  its  transportation  system  the  general  direction  of  the 
Swiss  federal  railways  has  outlined  a  detailed  plan  for  electrifica- 
tion by  the  utilization  of  its  water-power  resources. 


TUKKEY.  121 

The  railway  management  of  the  Canton  Berne  has  adopted  the 
electrification  program  and  has  contracted  for  part  of  the  work.  The 
cost  of  this  undertaking  is  estimated  at  150,000  francs  per  kilometer 
or  50,000,000  francs  for  the  whole  line.  This  cost  will  be  met  by  the 
railway  companies,  the  Canton,  the  commmies  concerned,  and  the 
Swiss  Federation. — [Commerce  Eeports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce, 
Nov.  7, 1918.  p.  524;  Kolnische  Zeitung,  Dec.  7, 1918.] 
Swiss  Parliament. 

The  Swiss  Parliament  is  considering  a  revision  of  the  Swiss  Con- 
stitution to  include  proportional  elections  for  the  National  Council 
and  an  increase  in  the  number  of  members  of  the  Government  from 
seven  to  nine. — [Post.  Washington.  D.  C,  Jan.  29,  1919.] 

Economic  Agreement  Ratified. 

The  Swiss  Federal  Council  has  ratified  the  economic  agreement 
made  with  France  in  Paris  on  March  25,  to  be  valid  until  December 
31.  The  French  Government  is  to  deliver  to  Switzerland  each  month 
60,000  tons  of  coal  from  the  Saar  mines,  and  assure  Switzerland  of  a 
supply  of  steel.  Switzerland  is  to  export  to  France  25,000  head  of 
cattle,  15,000  to  be  delivered  immediately. —  [The  Public,  New  York, 
N.  Y.,  Apr.  19,  1919,  p.  410.] 

Swiss  Relief  and  Creditors'  Association  for  Russia. 

For  the  purpose  of  protecting  Swiss  commercial  interests  in  Rus- 
sia, there  has  recently  been  formed  an  organization  known  as  the 
Swiss  Relief  and  Creditors'  Association  for  Russia.  The  leading 
chambers  of  commerce  are  represented  in  this  organization,  and  the 
aid  and  cooperation  of  Swiss  diplomatic  and  consular  officials  in 
Russia  have  been  assured.  Many  of  the  leading  manufacturers  and 
exporters  in  the  embroidery  industry  in  eastern  Switzerland  have 
had  a  large  prewar  trade  for  their  products  with  Russia,  and  an 
effort  is  being  made  to  have  such  interested  parties  become  members 
of  this  new  association. — [Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Com- 
merce, Apr.  28,  1919,  p.  579.] 

TURKEY. 

Transition  Economy. 

The  Turkish  minister  of  finance,  during  the  discussion  of  the  budget 
last  year,  made  an  announcement  with  reference  to  Turkey's  foreign 
trade  during  the  first  years  after  the  war.  In  the  debate  at  this  year's 
budget  the  minister  again  referred  to  the  matter,  and  with  such  de- 
tail that  it  is  clear  that  the  Government  has  already  made  definite 
plans  for  transition  economy.  Import  is  to  be  restricted,  export  ex- 
tended. He  regards  it  as  desirable  that  Government  control  of  im- 
ports and  exports  shall  continue  for  about  six  years  after  the  war^ 


122  FOKEIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

the  Government  control  to  be  exercised  by  means  of  the  admission 
or  refusal  of  foreign  bills. — [Wirtschaftszeitung  der  Zentralmachte, 
Aug.  23, 1918.] 

British  Government  Dairy  Farms  and  Other  Agricultural  "Undertakings. 

The  British  military  authorities  have  established  model  dairy 
farms  at  seven  different  points  in  Mesopotamia.  These  are  man- 
aged by  experts  and  the  milk  is  treated  under  hygienic  conditions. 
Each  farm  has  been  equipped  with  an  up-to-date  dairy  plant  and 
machinery,  and  the  whole  dairy  produce,  consisting  of  milk,  cream, 
and  butter,  is  turned  over  to  the  military  hospitals.  Large  numbers 
of  cattle  have  been  imported  from  India,  and  efforts  are  being  put 
forth  to  improve  and  increase  the  herds.  The  department  of  agri- 
culture, which  henceforth  will  control  the  dairy  farms,  has  been 
very  active  in  different  directions.  Various  demonstration  farms, 
such  as  poultry,  wheat,  and  cotton  farms,  have  been  established. 
Kew  canals,  irrigation  channels,  dams,  reservoirs,  and  the  reconstruc- 
tion of  similar  works  which  have  long  fallen  into  disuse,  have  been 
undertaken. — [Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Apr. 
15, 1919,  p.  323.] 

British  Banking  Activities. 

In  connection  with  the  resumption  of  commercial  activities  in 
Constantinople  by  various  foreign  interests  the  British  Trade  Cor- 
poration has  created  a  branch  for  near-eastern  trade,  known  as 
the  Levant  Co.  (Ltd.) ;  has  purchased  a  controlling  interest  in 
the  local  firm  of  Whittall  &  Co.,  which  formerly  had  exten- 
sive shipping  connections  with  the  United  States,  and  alsa  in 
the  National  Bank  of  Turkey.  It  is  also  reported  that  at  least  one 
of  the  London  "  Big  Four  "  commercial  banks  will  establish  a  branch 
in  Constantinople  and  in  other  main  cities  of  Asia  Minor.  Several 
Constantinople  business  men  who  have  always  been  interested  in 
American  trade  are  urging  the  necessity  of  the  establishment  of  an 
American  bank  in  Constantinople,  with  branches  in  Smyrna  and 
other  important  shipping  points. — [Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept. 
of  Commerce,  Apr.  15, 1919,  p.  324.] 

UNITED  KINGDOM. 

Ministry  of  Reconstruction. 

The  ministry  of  reconstruction  was  created  by  act  of  Parliament, 
1917,  to  continue  for  the  duration  of  the  war  and  for  two  years  after 
its  conclusion.  The  functions  of  the  minister  of  reconstruction  are 
to  institute  such  inquiries,  prepare  such  schemes,  and  make  such 
recommendations  as  he  thinks  fit  concerning  problems  arising  out  of 
the  war;  to  be  acquainted  with  all  proposals  for  dealing  with  post- 
war problems  which  are  under  consideration  by  Government  depart- 


UNITED  KINGDOM.  123 

ments  or  committees,  or  put  forward  by  responsible  bodies  or  per- 
sons; to  study  them  in  their  bearings  upon  each  other;  to  initiate 
proposals  for  dealing  with  matters  w^hich  are  not  already  covered; 
and  to  build  up  out  of  all  this  material,  for  submission  to  Parliament, 
a  reasoned  policy  of  reconstruction  in  all  its  branches.  An  advisory 
council  representative  of  all  the  leading  interests  concerned  in  re- 
construction assists  the  minister  of  reconstruction,  and  he  is  also 
being  aided  by  87  different  committees  and  commissions  set  up  to  deal 
with  after-the-war  questions. — [British  war  cabinet,  report  for  year 
1917,  ch.  XVI.] 
Industry  and  Commerce. 

The  committee  on  commercial  and  industrial  policy  after  the  war 
in  its  report  states  that,  while  Bi^itish  industry  engaged  in  such  lines 
as  coal,  cotton  and  the  textile  trades  generally,  shipbuilding,  and 
some  branches  of  the  engineering  trades  (such  as  textile  machinery), 
has  made  great  strides  forward ;  the  iron  and  steel  trades  had  made 
comparatively  little  progress,  and  had  come  to  be  overshadowed  by 
their  great  competitors  in  Germany  and  the  United  States;  that  in 
the  rise  and  expansion  of  the  more  modern  branches  of  industrial 
production  the  United  Kingdom  had  taken  a  very  limited  share; 
and  it  is  admitted  that  in  a  number  of  smaller  trades,  foreign  manu- 
facturers had  shown  greater  enterprise  and  originality.  Certain 
branches  of  production,  of  great  importance  as  a  basis  for  other 
manufactures,  had  come  to  be  entirely  or  very  largely  under  German 
control  due  to  tlie  Germans'  persistent  scientific  work  and  organizing 
skill.  A  proposition  is  made  that  in  the  transition  following  the 
war,  enemy  goods  be  prohibited  for  at  least  12  months  following 
peace,  especially  to  prevent  Germany  from  recapturing  fields  of 
trade  which  had  been  built  up  by  the  British  during  the  war.  Ex- 
tended discussion  is  given  to  Government  control  and  Government 
purchase  of  raw  materials,  and  the  encouragement  of  their  produc- 
tion at  home.  Adoption  of  the  metric  system  and  of  decimal  cur- 
rency, and  several  other  important  subjects  are  reported  upon. — 
[British  committee  on  commercial  and  industrial  policy  after  the 
war,  December,  1917.] 
Government  Policy  Concerning  Agriculture. 

The  agricultural  policy  subcommittee  in  its  report  recommends, 
inasmuch  as  agriculture  is  regarded  as  a  dangerous  industry  to  in- 
vest in,  due  to  climate,  pests,  weeds,  and  the  policy  of  the  Gov- 
ernment with  regard  to  imposts,  that  taxes  and  reclamation  projects 
be  handled  with  these  facts  in  mind;  that  pests  and  weeds  be  con- 
trolled as  far  as  possible  through  seed  inspection  and  inspection  of 
manure  supply;  that  a  standard  uniform  system  of  weights  and 
measures  be  substituted  for  the  current  practice;  and  that  trans- 


124  FOKEIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

portation  facilities  be  administered  with  a  view  to  aiding  agricul- 
ture.— [British  agricultural  policy  subcommittee's  report,  Jan.  30, 
1918.] 
Improvement  of  Social  and  Industrial  Conditions. 

In  its  interim  report  the  committee  on  adult  education  states  that, 
in  order  to  safeguard  society  itself  from  internal  civil  dissension,  as 
well  as  from  external  war,  certain  definite  conditions  of  life  are 
deemed  indispensable.  To  this  end  it  is  proposed  that  the  workday 
be  shortened ;  that  purely  economic  ends  be  not  pursued  to  the  sacri- 
fice of  social  and  human  values ;  that  heavy  and  exhausting  work  be 
restricted  to  less  than  eight  hours  per  day,  and  that  monotonous 
work  be  relieved  by  alternating  forms  of  employment  calling  for 
initiative;  that  overtime  be  closely  restricted,  and  that  night  work 
be  substantially  eliminated;  that  a  weekly  half  holiday  should  be 
allowed  and  taken,  and  an  annual  vacation  provided  for;  that  the 
housing  problem  be  solved  to  the  end  of  relieving  Avomen  of  un- 
necessary drudgery,  that  their  work  may  be  pleasant  and  satisfac- 
tory and  their  leisure  more  happy  and  worthwhile ;  that  the  domestic 
servant,  especially,  be  relieved  of  the  customary  long  and  irregular 
hours,  and  of  her  usual  unwholesome  isolation;  and  that  industrial 
women  workers  should  be  relieved  of  the  double  burden  of  domestic 
duties  so  often  added  to  their  industrial  occupations. —  [British  adult- 
education  committee's  interim  report,  Mar.  14,  1918.] 

Education  in  the  Army. 

The  adult  education  committee,  in  their  second  interim  report,  rec- 
ommend that  army  education  be  provided,  with  the  thought  that  the 
older  as  well  as  the  younger  men  are  to  be  reached.  Education  of  a 
general  character,  nonvocational,  should  be  most  emphasized.  Edu- 
cation for  life  and  citizenship,  modern  languages  and  literature,  his- 
tory and  political  science,  industrial  and  social  economics  should 
be  encouraged.  Special  care  should  be  taken  to  train  men  for  service 
in  demobilization,  and  after  cessation  of  hostilities  particular  care  of 
educational  facilities  should  be  taken.  There  should  be  established 
an  education  branch  of  the  war  office. — [British  adult-education  com- 
mittee's report,  July  3,  1918.] 
Economy  Through  Standardization. 

The  ministry  of  reconstruction  has  published  a  report  of  its  ad- 
visory council,  wherein  it  recommends  that,  as  England  is  at  a  dis- 
advantage in  respect  to  its  railroad  construction  and  equipment  owing 
to  the  prevalence  of  much  unnecessary  diversity  of  type,  a  few  stand- 
ard types  should  be  substituted,  with  interchangeable  parts  provided 
for  wherever  economically  possible.  In  prewar  times  the  big  railway 
companies  themselves  manufactured  over  50  per  cent  of  the  locomo- 
tives used  by  all  the  railways,  and  thus  "other  countries  have  not 


UNITED  KINGDOM.  125 

suffered  as  much  from  this  riot  of  individuality,"  because  their  equip- 
ment was  purchased  from  private  firms. — [British  advisory  council's 
report  upon  standardization  of  railway  equipment,  July  4,  1918.] 

Conference  on  Imperial  Economic  Policy. 

The  imperial  war  conference  and  the  imperial  w^ar  cabinet  have 
been  holding  important  sessions  in  London.  It  appears  that  the  Do- 
minions are  very  much  interested  in  the  strong  development  of  close 
imperial  cooperation  in  matters  of  economic  policy.  Various  con- 
fidential resolutions  have  been  adopted  relating  to  postwar  economic 
policy. — [Commerce  Reports,  IT.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Aug.  21, 
1918,  p.  738.] 
British  Firms  Advised  to  Prepare  for  Future. 

Attention  is  called  in  the  British  Board  of  Trade  Journal 
of  August  1,  to  the  expansion  of  export  trade  after  the  war; 
and  it  advises  examination  of  methods  of  production  and  distribu- 
tion, the  seizure  of  every  opportunity  of  studying  the  rapidly  chang- 
ing conditions  in  overseas  markets  which  the  war  has  brought  about, 
and  preparation  for  the  renewal  of  exporting  activity  after  the  war. — 
[Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Aug^  29, 1918,  p.  806.] 
Provisional  Advisory  Council  for  the  Board  of  Trade. 

Pending  the  formation  of  an  advisory  council  for  the  board  of  trade 
on  a  permanent  basis,  the  president  of  the  British  Board  of  Trade  has 
invited  the  chairmen  (or  other  representatives)  of  various  board  of 
trade  committees,  including  those  on  trade  after  the  war,  the  presi- 
dents (or  other  representatives)  of  the  Association  of  Chambers  of 
Commerce  and  the  Federation  of  British  Industries,  and  representa- 
tives of  labor  interests  to  form  a  provisional  council  to  advise  the 
department  of  commerce  and  industry.  The  council  also  includes 
representatives  of  the  foreign,  colonial,  and  Indian  offices,  and  the 
Dominion  Governments  have  been  invited  to  nominate  members. 
The  first  meeting  of  the  council  was  held  at  the  board  of  trade 
October  9.— [British  Board  of  Trade  Journal,  Oct.  10,  1918,  p.  450.] 
Commerce  and  Industry  After  the  War. 

In  an  address  before  the  industrial  reconstruction  council  in  Octo- 
I)er,  1918,  on  "  Commerce  and  Industry  after  the  War,"  the  president 
of  the  board  of  trade  dealt  with  the  present  position  of  British  indus- 
try, after-the-war  competition,  production  during  the  war,  the  need 
for  large-scale  production,  the  securing  of  supplies  of  raw  materials, 
scientific  research  in  its  application  to  industry,  cooperation  between 
employers  and  employed,  distribution  of  commodities,  functions  of 
the  Government  in  the  efforts  to  attain  the  largest  possible  production, 
the  maintenance  of  "  key  industries,"  sea  and  land  transportation, 
conservation  of  coal,  cooperation  with  Dominions  and  Allies,  and 
transitional  control  by  the  Government. — [The  speech  is  published  in 
full  in  the  British  Board  of  Trade  Journal,  Oct.  10, 1918,  p.  452.] 


126  FOREIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

Financial  Center  of  the  World. 

The  president  of  the  London  City  and  Midland  Bank  in  an  ad- 
dress on  September  14,  in  speaking  of  after-the-war  problems,  dwelt 
chiefly  upon  the  necessity  of  making  every  effort  to  insure  that  Lon- 
don remains  the  financial  center  of  the  world. — [Commerce  Reports, 
U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Oct.  12, 1918,  p.  161.] 

Coal-Saving  Expedients. 

The  advisory  committee  appointed  by  the  coal  controller  to  recom- 
mend ways  of  economizing  in  the  domestic  consumption  of  fuel,  has 
prepared  an  interim  report  dealing  with  the  adaptation  of  existing 
types  of  open  fires,  closed  stoves,  and  cooking  ranges,  so  as  to  increase 
their  efficiency. — [Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Oct. 
14,  1918,  p.  187.] 

Potash  Supplies. 

According  to  expert  opinion,  the  present  outlook  for  the  supply  of 
potash  in  Great  Britain  is  very  hopeful.  Day  by  day  the  country  be- 
comes more  independent  of  the  German  product. — [Commerce  Re- 
ports, U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Oct.  15,  1918,  p.  198.] 

Committee  on  Wages  Awards. 

With  a  view  to  immediate  action  concerning  the  situation  which 
may  result  at  the  end  of  the  war  in  regard  to  the  various  wages 
awards  which  have  been  made  during  the  war,  the  minister  of  recon- 
struction, with  the  concurrence  of  the  departments  affected,  has  ap- 
pointed a  committee  with  the  following  terms  of  reference : 

1.  Whether  the  compulsory  operation  of  awards  made  under  the 
munitions  of  war  acts,  of  orders  extending  such  awards,  and  of  orders 
regulating  wages  made  under  those  acts  should  be  continued  after 
the  war. 

2.  Whether  the  power  to  make  such  aAvards  or  orders  should  be 
continued  after  the  war. 

3.  The  manner  in  which  awards  and  orders,  if  made  or  continued, 
should  be  enforced  after  the  war,  and  for  what  period.^— [British 
Board  of  Trade  Journal,  Oct.  17,  1918,  p.  488.] 

Organization  for  Industrial  Eeconstruction. 

It  is  recognized  that  the  resettlement  of  the  industries  of  the  coun- 
try on  a  peace  basis  could  not  satisfactorily  be  left  to  unguided 
private  effort;  and  the  Government  is,  therefore,  endeavoring  to  se- 
cure the  early  establishment  of  properly  constituted  bodies,  repre- 
sentative of  employers  and  employees,  to  which  questions  affecting 
the  different  industries  may  be  referred.  Three  forms  of  such  bodies 
are  being  organized : 

1.  It  is  intended  that  in  each  industry  which  has  reached  a  suffi- 
ciently high  level  of  organization  there  shall  be  set  up  a  joint  stand- 


UNITED  KINGDOM.  127 

ing  or  national  industrial  council,  consisting  of  equal  representation 
of  associations  of  employers  and  of  trade-unions,  in  accordance  with 
the  "  Whitley  Report,"  the  policy  of  which  has  been  adopted  by  the 
Government.  The  ministry  of  labor  undertakes  the  duty  of  assisting 
the  industries  to  create  such  councils.  A  number  of  these  bodies  are 
already  in  existence  and  others  are  in  process  of  formation. 

2.  Where  industries  are  not  sufficiently  organized,  or  for  some 
reason  are  not  in  a  position  to  form  national  councils,  interim  indus- 
trial reconstruction  committees  are  formed.  These  committees  are 
dealt  with  by  the  ministry  of  reconstruction  and  it  is  expected  that 
they  will  eventually  form  national  industrial  councils.  These  com- 
mittees are  allowed  a  good  deal  of  latitude  as  to  scope,  the  idea  being 
that  if  employers  and  employees  in  any  industry  can  be  brought  to- 
gether to  discuss  any  questions,  whatever,  they  will  learn  to  know  and 
trust  one  another.  At  present  the  ministry  of  reconstruction  is  ask- 
ing its  committees  primarily  to  deal  with  questions  concerning  de- 
mobilization and  general  commercial  matters  which  will  arise  im- 
mediately after  the  war. 

3.  A  third  form  of  organization  is  the  trade  board.  These  can  be 
provided  in  unorganized  areas  on  application  of  a  national  indus- 
trial council  with  the  approval  of  the  ministry  of  labor,  or  in  the 
less  organized  hidustries  where  the  ministry  of  labor  deems  it  neces- 
sary. Such  industries  can,  with  the  approval  of  the  ministry  of  re- 
construction, form  interim  industrial  committees,  and  later,  with 
the  approval  of  the  ministrj^  of  labor,  national  industrial  councils. — 
[Federation  of  British  Industries  Bulletin,  Oct.  24,  1918,  p.  446.] 

Elimination  of  Fuel  Waste. 

Four  hundred  experts  have  been  appointed  by  the  coal  controller 
to  consult  with  and  advise  steam-power  users  how  to  eliminate 
waste. — [Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Oct.  26,  1918^ 
p.  357.] 

Raw  Materials. 

The  potash  industry  is  to  be  encouraged  in  order  to  make  the 
country  independent  of  Germany  for  their  suppl}^  of  this  com- 
modity. Scientists  have  discovered  formulas  utilizing  abundant  raw 
materials  in  the  production  of  potash. — [Wall  Street  Journal.  New 
York,  N.  Y..  Oct.  31,  1918.] 
Imperial  War  Conference,  Report  of  the. 

A  full  report  has  been  issued  of  the  proceedings  of  the  imperial 
war  conference  (Cd.  9177)  together  with  the  various  memoranda 
which  were  laid  before  it  and  upon  which  the  discussions  were  based. 
Among  the  subjects  which  came  under  discussion  were  the  non- 
ferrous  metal  industry,  the  control  of  raw  materials,  shipping,  in- 


128  FOREIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

terimperial    communications,    imperial    mineral    resources,    etc. — 
[British  Board  of  Trade  Journal,  Oct.  31,  1918,  p.  549.] 
Building  After  the  War. 

The  committe  on  building  industry  after  the  war  published  a  re- 
port in  which  it  stated  that  there  will  undoubtedly  be  a  general 
shortage  of  building  material,  and  correspondingly  high  prices ;  and 
that  to  meet  this  situation  there  should  be  appointed  a  central  build- 
ing industry  committee,  wdth  regional  subcommittees,  whose  aim  it 
shall  be  to  increase  supplies,  aided  by  the  early  release  of  pivotal 
men  from  the  army,  favorable  control  of  transportation  rates  and 
facilities,  repression  of  nonessential  uses,  and  the  careful  attention 
to  the  labor  situation,  to  the  end  of  securing  maximum  produc- 
tion.— [British  committee  on  bldg.  industry  after  the  war  report, 
Nov.  4,  1918.] 

lEey  Industries. 

A  key  industry  exposition  was  held  in  London,  October  8,  under 
the  auspices  of  the  Tariff  Reform  League,  the  object  of  which  is  to 
present  the  facts  to  the  public  in  order  to  create  a  sentiment  in  favor 
of  maintaining  and  protecting  these  vital  industries  in  the  United 
Xingdom. — [Commerce  Eeports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Nov. 
7,  1918,  p.  513.] 

Postwar  Priority. 

The  war  cabinet  recently  set  up  a  cabinet  committee  to  deal  with 
postwar  priority  questions.  It  consists  of  General  Smuts,  the  pres- 
ident of  the  board  of  trade,  the  minister  of  labour,  the  minister  of 
shipping,  the  minister  of  munitions,  and  the  minister  of  reconstruc- 
tion. A  standing  council  of  postwar  priority  has  been  appointed 
to  assist  the  cabinet  committee,  and  is  now  at  work.  The  council 
has  had  before  it  a  survey  of  the  existing  stocks  of  the  more  impor- 
tant raw  materials,  and  in  giving  urgent  consideration  to  the  question 
of  releasing  such  materials  from  any  form  of  control  at  the  (earliest 
possible  moment.  It  is  the  intention  of  the  council  to  consult  the 
trade  bodies  concerned  with  regard  to  any  matters  affecting  the  in- 
dustries they  represent,  and,  by  taking  them  into  their  confidence, 
to  make  the  utmost  possible  use  of  their  organizations  in  any  alloca- 
tion of  materials  which  may  be  found  necessary. — [British  Board 
of  Trade  Journal,  Nov.  7,  1918,  p.  580.] 

Demobilization  and  Resettlement,  Civil  Department  of. 

The  British  Government  has  created  a  civil  department  of  demobi- 
lization and  resettlement  responsible  to  the  ministry  of  labor,  under 
the  controller  general,  to  deal  with  all  questions  affecting  reemploy- 
ment and  resettlement  of  navy,  army,  and  air  forces,  and  of  civil  war- 
workers.— [Wall  St.  Journal,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  9,  1918.] 


UN^ITED  KINGDOM.  129 

Export  Trade,  Development  of. 

The  British  Manufacturers'  Corporation  has  been  organized,  hav- 
ing for  its  main  object  the  development  of  British  export  trade  after 
the  war. — [Commerce  Exports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Nov.  11. 
1919,  p.  566.] 

Demobilization  of  Munitions  Works  and  Liquidation  of  Contracts. 

The  minister  of  munitions  has  appointed  a  demobilization  board 
to  deal  with  all  measures  affecting  the  demobilization  of  munitions 
works  and  liquidation  of  contracts  apart  from  the  questions  assigned 
to  the  resettlement  board  under  the  minister  of  labour. — [British 
Board  of  Trade  Journal,  Nov.  14, 1918,  p.  609.] 

Shipping,  Control  of. 

The  shipping  controller  has  announced  that  it  is  not  contemplated 
that  the  control  of  merchant  shipping  should  continue  for  any  longer 
period  than  is  necessary  to  provide  for  the  extraordinary  conditions 
arising  out  of  the  war.  Privately-owned  ships  now  under  requisi- 
tion are  to  be  released  from  control  as  soon  as  the  tonnage  available 
is  considered  clearly  sufficient  to  provide  for  such  essential  shipping 
services  as  may  be  necessary  in  the  national  interests. — [British 
Board  of  Trade  Journal,  Nov.  14, 1918,  p.  609.] 

Demobilization  of  Munition  Workers. 

The  ministry  of  munitions  has  issued  the  following  instructions 
to  all  factories  and  firms  engaged  on  work  for  that  ministry : 

1.  There  should,  so  far  as  possible,  be  no  immediate  general  dis- 
charge of  munition  workers. 

2.  All  workers,  however,  who  desire  to  withdraw  from  industry 
or  to  leave  for  any  reason,  and  all  workers  who  can  be  absorbed  else- 
where, should  be  at  once  released. 

3.  Production  or  contracts  for  guns  and  gun  ammunition,  machine 
guns,  small  arms,  and  small-arms  ammunition;  trench-warfare  mor- 
tars, bombs,  and  stores,  pyrotechnic  stores,  aerial  bombs;  all  acces- 
sories of  the  above  stores,  aircraft  and  aero  engines;  and  the  manu- 
facture of  explosives,  should  be  reduced  in  the  following  way : 

a.  All  overtime  should  be  immediately  abolished. 

h.  Systems  of  payment  by  results  should  be  temporarily  suspended, 
and  the  customary  notice  of  the  transfer  from  payment  by  results  to 
time-work  should  be  given. 

G,  When  a  transfer  to  time-work  has  taken  place,  a  reduction  of 
the  hourly  week,  should,  wherever  possible,  be  introduced.  The  re- 
duction of  hours  will  also  apply  to  men  already  on  time-work,  and, 
in  their  case,  the  customary  procedure  as  to  reduction  of  hours  should 
be  followed. 

115488—19 9 


130  FOREIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

d.  Whenever  reduced  hours  are  worked  on  a  time-work  basis,  the 
number  of  hours  worked  must  not  be  less  than  one-half  of  the  hours 
in  the  present  normal  working  week  of  the  establishment.  Earnings 
will  be  made  up  by  the  employer,  w^ho  will  be  reimbursed  by  the 
State  in  any  case  which  for  the  full  weekly  number  of  hours  on  the 
short-time  system  fall  below  the  following : 

Men  of  18  and  over,  30  shillings  per  week.  Boys  under  18,  15 
shillings  per  week.  Women  of  18  and  over,  25  shillings  per  week. 
Girls  under  18,  12  shillings  and  6  pence  per  week.  Where  time  is 
lost,  the  amounts  payable  will  be  sums  proportionate  to  the  number 
of  hours  actually  worked. 

The  adoption  of  half-time  may  cause  unavoidable  discharges,  but 
every  effort  should  be  made  to  minimize  unemployment,  utilizing 
employees  for  a  short  period  on  laboring  and  clearing-up  work.  In 
allotting  this  work  preference  should  be  given  to  workpeople  who 
are  ordinarily  dependent  upon  industrial  employment. 

All  persons  discharged,  or  claiming  release,  can  obtain  free  rail- 
way warrants  for  journeys  from  the  place  of  employment  to  their 
homes,  or  to  places  where  they  have  found  new  employment. — [Brit- 
ish Board  of  Trade  Journal,  Nov.  14,  1918,  p.  626.] 

TTnemployment  Donation  to  Demobilized  Civilian  War  Workers. 

To  provide  for  the  abnormal  period  that  must  immediately  follow 
on  the  cessation  of  hostilities,  the  Government  has  adopted  as  a 
temporary  measure  the  following  general  scheme  of  noncontributory 
unemployment  donation,  which  has  been  laid  before  it  by  the  min- 
ister of  reconstruction  in  agreement  with  the  minister  of  labor. 
The  broad  conditions  of  the  scheme  are  that  the  donations  shall  re- 
main in  force  for  a  period  of  six  months  from  a  date  to  be  an- 
nounced by  the  Government  and  that  the  benefit  can  be  drawn  for 
a  maximum  of  13  weeks  during  that  period  in  cases  where  unemploy- 
ment can  not  be  avoided.  Under  the  temporary  noncontributory 
scheme,  which  will  remain  in  force  pending  the  introduction  of  a 
general  contributory  scheme,  demobilized  civilian  war  workers  will 
receive  benefits  on  the  following  scale: 

a.  To  unemployed  men  over  the  age  of  18  years,  24  shillings  a 
week.    To  unemployed  women  over  that  age,  20  shillings  a  week. 

&.  There  will  be  an  additional  allowance  in  respect  to  the  first 
dependent  child  under  15  years  of  age,  6  shillings  for  each  additional 
dependent  child  under  that  age. 

G.  There  is  a  further  provision  for  unemployed  juveniles  be- 
tween the  ages  of  15  and  18  of  12  shillings  per  week  for  boys  and  10 
shillings  for  girls,  conditional  on  their  attending  a  course  of  in- 
struction approved  by  the  board  of  education  or  other  central  de- 
partment concerned. 


UNITED  KINGDOM.  131 

While  the  above  is  operating,  the  existing  compulsory  unemploy- 
ment insurance  scheme  will  remain  in  suspense  so  far  as  benefits  are 
concerned.— [British  Board  of  Trade  Journal,  Nov.  14,  1918,  p.  627.] 
Passport  Eegulations. 

The  home  office  has  announced  that  on  and  after  November  23  all 
passengers  leaving  the  United  Kingdom  for  the  United  States  must 
obtain  a  visa  on  their  passports  from  the  American  consul  in  London. 
Passengers  to  France,  or  via  France  to  Italy,  Switzerland,  or  Greece 
must  obtain  a  visa  from  the  French  bureau  des  passeports  in  Lon- 
don, or  the  French  consul  at  Liverpool,  Southampton,  or  Folk- 
stone.  Passengers  to  certain  other  countries  must  obtain  permits  from 
the  British  permit  office  in  London. — [British  Board  of  Trade 
Journal,  Nov.  14,  1918,  p.  630.] 

Decimal  Coinage. 

A  royal  commission  has  been  appointed  to  consider  the  advisability 
of  placing  the  currency  and  money  account  of  the  United  Kingdom 
on  a  decimal  basis.  The  Federation  of  British  Industries  is  giving 
its  hearty  support  to  the  attempts  being  made  to  introduce  the  deci- 
mal system  of  coinage. — [Federation  of  British  Industries  Bulletin, 
Nov.  21,  1918.] 

Labor  Party's  Reconstruction  Program. 

The  British  Labor  Party  adopted  in  June,  1918,  resolutions  setting 
forth  its  views  on  reconstruction.  The  subjects  covered  include  in- 
creased production  and  the  maintenance  of  the  standard  of  life ;  pro- 
vision for  soldiers,  sailors,  and  civilian  war  workers,  and  restoration 
of  trade-union  conditions;  unemployment;  political  reforms,  includ- 
ing improvement  of  conditions  as  to  education,  housing,  relief  of  the 
poor,  health,  temperance,  agriculture,  and  rural  life.  Government 
ownership  of  railways  and  other  means  of  communication  and  of 
mines  is  advocated,  with  greater  control  over  industry.  Revision 
of  methods  of  national  finance  are  urged,  so  as  to  place  a  greater 
share,  of  the  burden  of  taxation  upon  accumulated  wealth.  Sir 
Arthur  Henderson,  secretary  of  the  British  Labor  Party,  states  that 
the  four  "  pillars  of  the  house  "  of  the  labor  party's  program  are : 
a.  The  universal  enforcement  of  the  national  minimum ;  h.  the  demo^ 
cratic  control  of  industry ;  c.  the  revolution  in  national  finance ;  and 
d.  the  surplus  wealth  for  the  common  good. —  [Resolutions  on  Recon- 
struction of  British  Labor  Party,  1918;  Survey,  New  York,  N.  Y., 
Aug.  3,  1918 ;  "  The  Aims  of  Labor,"  Sir  Arthur  Henderson,  Janu- 
ary, 1918.] 

Standardization  of  Railway  Plants. 

A  report  upon  the  standardization  of  railway  equipment  has  been 
made  to  the  ministry  of  reconstruction  by  the  advisory  council  of  the 


132  FOREIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

ministry.  The  report  states  that  competition  between  the  big  rail- 
ways has  resulted  in  an  unnecessary  multiplication  of  types  and  that 
in  no  other  country  has  individuality  been  allowed  so  much  free 
scope,  with  the  result  that  British  railways  are  severely  handicapped 
and  their  operation  not  so  economical  as  it  might  be.  The  committee 
recommends  certain  steps  to  be  taken  for  carrying  out  standardiza- 
tion of  railway  plants  as  far  as  it  is  practicable  to  do  so. — [British 
Board  of  Trade  Journal,  Nov.  21,  1918,  p.  641.] 

Shipping  Policy  of  Government. 

In  a  statement  to  the  House  of  Commons,  the  parliamentary  sec- 
retary to  the  ministry  of  shipping  said  that  the  declared  policy  of  the 
Government  with  regard  to  shipping  is  to  restore  the  position  that 
obtained.  It,  therefore,  follows  that  the  Government  has  contem- 
plated the  sale  of  the  Government  ships  to  private  owners,  and  a  be- 
ginning of  the  sale  has  been  made.  In  relation  to  every  matter  con- 
cerning shipbuilding,  first-class  priority  will  be  given,  whether  it 
is  for  steel,  for  labor,  for  the  supply  of  material,  or  for  the  supply 
of  houses  for  workmen  that  are  needed  in  connection  with  these  ex- 
tensions. It  is  the  desire  of  the  shipping  controller  that  private 
yards  should  in  future  be  open  to  shipowners. — [British  Board  of 
Trade  Journal,  Nov.  21,  1918,  p.  649.] 

Acquisition  of  Land  for  Public  Purposes. 

Two  reports  of  the  committee  on  law  and  practice  have  been  pub- 
lished by  the  ministry  of  reconstruction.  The  first  report  recommends 
the  creation  of  a  new  "  sanctioning  authority,"  to  pass  promptly  on  all 
except  local  applications  for  power  to  acquire  land  compulsorily  for 
public  purposes.  The  second  report  states  that  the  "  lands  clauses  acts 
are  out  of  date  and  should  be  repealed  and  replaced  by  a  fresh  code  " ; 
that  the  owner  should  be  paid  the  market  value  plus  compensation  for 
consequential  injury,  but  without  allowance  for  the  compulsory  acqui- 
sition, and  without  any  increased  value  which  might  have  arisen  "  by 
reason  of  the  suitability  of  the  land  for  a  purpose  to  which  it  could 
only  be  applied  under  statutory  powers,"  and  no  compensation  for 
value  arising  from  use  of  premises  contrary  to  sanitary  or  other  laws 
and  regulations;  that  where  a  particular  improvement  increases  the 
value  of  neighboring  land,  the  State  or  local  authority  should  be  en- 
titled to  participate  in  such  increased  value;  and  that  injurious  af- 
fection should  also  be  compensated. — [British  law  and  practice  com- 
mittee's reports,  Jan.  9-Nov,  20,  1918.] 

Demobilization  of  Munitions  Workers. 

The  ministry  of  munitions  has  issued  a  circular  letter  pointing  out 
the  necessity  of  firms  conferring  immediately  with  the  local  employ- 
ment exchanges,  with  a  view  to  facilitating  the  transfer  of  workers 
discharged  under  the  scheme  of  demobilization  to  other  work  of  na- 


UNITED  KINGDOM.  133 

tional  importance  or  their  return  to  their  homes  or  previous  employ- 
ment. In  every  case  the  local  employment  exchanges  must  be  informed 
at  least  14  days  in  advance  of  the  numbers  of  workers  expected  to  be 
dispensed  with.  When  the  notices  of  discharge  are  served  on  the  men 
and  women  there  must  be  furnished  to  the  employment  exchange  a 
list  of  their  names,  addresses,  and  previous  occupations.  When  the 
discharge  of  a  considerable  number  of  workers  is  in  contemplation 
the  following  order  of  discharge  is  suggested : 

1.  Those  who  were  not  industrial  workers  prior  to  taking  up  muni- 
tions'work  and  are  willing  to  withdraw  voluntarily. 

2.  Workers  who  can  readily  be  absorbed  in  their  previous  occupa- 
tions or  in  the  staple  industries  of  the  place,  where  such  industries 
exist  and  vacancies  are  available. 

3.  Bad  timekeepers. 

4.  Workers  who  liaA^e  not  served  a  given  length  of  time  (to  be  agreed 
in  each  case)  in  the  following  order: 

a.  Those  originally  brought  in  from  other  districts. 

h.  Those  workers  who  are  making  a  specially  heavy  demand  on 
transport  service. 

c.  Others. 
[British  Board  of  Trade  Journal,  Nov.  21,  1918,  p.  663.] 
Financial  Facilities  After  the  War. 

The  committee  on  financial  facilities  has  published  a  report  present- 
ing a  study  of  the  financial  machinery  and  its  peace  operations,  show- 
ing the  manner  in  which  the  gold  standard  has  automatically  regu- 
lated credit  and  international  prices.  The  war-time  substitution  of 
currency  note  issues,  not  legally  limited  in  amount,  for  gold  and  check 
circulation,  permitted  inflation  of  credit.  Opposition  is  made  to  at- 
tempt to  rebuild  industry  by  means  of  further  indiscriminate  expan- 
sion of  credit,  which  would  endanger  London  as  the  world's  financial 
center  and  also  threaten  ultimate  disaster.  Reconstitution  of  industry 
on  sound  financial  basis  is  advised,  calling  for  an  effective  gold  stand- 
ard, a  check  on  undue  expansion  of  credit  and  incidental  rise  in  prices, 
and  steps  to  reduce  to  normal  proportions  the  inflation  of  credit  due 
to  the  war.  The  reconstruction  will  call  for  more  long-term  credit  on 
capital  goods  with  relatively  less  short-term  trade  credit.  The  banks 
will  have  to  increase  their  paid-up  capital  and  encourage  long-period 
deposits  in  order  to  meet  the  demand  for  these  long-time  loans.  Un- 
essential enterprises  must  be  checked  and  speculation  repressed.  It 
is  hoped  that  the  British  Trade  Corporation  may  be  of  real  value,  in 
overseas  trade  especially.  The  committee  looks  with  favor  on  some 
control  over  new  capital  issues,  at  least  until  State  borrowing  in  con- 
nection with  the  war  is  completed,  especially  so  inasmuch  as  much 
public  work  will  have  to  be  resumed,  and  the  country's  resources 


134  FOREIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

should  be  restricted  to  essential  activities.  They  oppose  State  aid  to 
banks  and  also  to  private  enterprise,  bringing  as  it  does  a  degree  of 
State  control ;  but  perhaps  excess-profit  taxes  might  be  retained  for  a 
time  as  a  Government  loan  at  interest,  as  a  helpful  addition  to  avail- 
able liquid  resources. — [British  committee  on  financial  facilities  re- 
port, Nov.  21,  1918.] 

Demobilization  of  Army. 

"  Demobilizers,"  made  up  for  the  most  part  of  officials  and  army 
men,  will  assist  in  the  actual  process  of  demobilization.  The  orde^ 
will  be,  1,  "  Pivotal  men,"  those  upon  whom  a  great  deal  of  industry 
and  employment  in  a  pivotal  trade  and  works  depend ;  2,  "  Slip  men," 
those  for  whom  definite  work  is  actually  available  and  for  whom 
places  are  being  kept  open ;  and,  3,  men  engaged  in  the  various  trades 
and  professions  in  accordance  with  a  priority  list  based  on  a  quali- 
fication of  the  trades  and  professions  in  their  order  of  national  im- 
portance.— [Federation  of  British  Industries  Bulletin,  Nov.  21, 
1918.] 

Demobilization  of  Civil  War  Workers. 

The  policy  of  the  Government  with  regard  to  demobilization  of 
civil  war  workers  appears  to  be  to  carry  on  munition  work  at  a  re- 
duced rate  for  the  present,  with  a  view  to  gradually  putting  an  end 
to  surplus  war  production  and  finding  the  displaced  workmen  suf- 
ficient employment  in  peace  trades.  Every  encouragement  will  be 
given  to  firms  who  are  able  to  turn  over  to  peace  work,  and  sugges- 
tions as  to  peace  industries  which  can  easily  be  taken  up  are  invited. 
Employment  exchanges  will  advise  firms  as  to  order  of  discharge, 
etc.,  and  free  railway  warrants  to  their  homes  or  new  employments 
will  be  issued  through  the  labor  exchanges  for  all  persons  discharged 
or  claiming  release.  The  Government  has  adopted  a  temporary  non- 
contributory  unemployment  allowance  under  which  unemployed  men, 
women,  and  children  will  be  granted  so  much  per  week  for  a  maxi- 
mum of  13  weeks.  The  benefits  to  boys  and  girls  are  conditional 
on  their  attending  a  course  of  instruction  approved  by  the  board  of 
education. — [Federation  of  British  Industries  Bulletin,  Nov.  21, 
1918.] 
Disposition  of  Government-Owned  Materials,  Plants,  and  Machinery. 

The  ministry  of  munitions  will  do  all  in  its  power  to  maintain 
stability  in  price,  and  will  therefore  not  attempt  to  dump  huge 
stocks  of  surplus  materials  on  the  market,  but  they  will  be  fed  out 
gradually.  Contractors  in  possession  of  plants  and  machinery  owned 
by  the  Government  who  wish  to  utilize  the  same  for  civil  work  may 
do  so  upon  serving  proper  notice  and  paying  a  reasonable  hire.  Or- 
ders and  instructions  will  be  issued  shortly  under  which  restrictions, 
which  have  hitherto  existed  prohibiting  manufacturers  from  under- 


UNITED  KINGDOM.  135 

taking  certain  classes  of  orders  and  from  using  certain  materials 
otherwise  than  for  specified  purposes,  will  be  relaxed  as  far  as  possi- 
ble.— [Federation  of  British  Industries  Bulletin,  Nov.  21,  1918.] 
Internal  Transport  System,  Recommendations  Concerning. 

The  select  committee  of  the  House  of  Commons,  which  was  ap- 
pointed on  August  6,  has  issued  a  second  report  (Cd.  136)  which  con- 
tains the  following  conclusions : 

1.  That  the  organization  of  the  transport  agencies  of  the  country, 
and  particularly  the  railways,  can  not  be  allowed  to  return  to  its  pre- 
war position. 

2.  That  the  temporary  arrangements  for  the  control  of  railways 
and  canals  during  the  war  would  not  be  satisfactory  as  a  permanent 
settlement. 

3.  That  unification  of  the  railway  system  is  desirable  under  suit- 
able safeguards,  whether  the  ownership  be  in  public  or  private  hands. 

Any  one  of  the  following  courses  would  be  consistent  with  the  con- 
clusions stated  above,  but  without  further  evidence  the  committee  is 
not  in  a  position  to  recommend  which  of  these  methods  should  be 
adopted  in  the  first  instance : 

1.  Further  amalgamation  of  railway  companies  as  a  step  towards 
unification. 

2.  Unification  accompanied  by  private  ownership  and  commercial 
management. 

3.  Unification  by  means  of  nationalization  followed  by^ 

ci.  Establishment  of  a  Government  department  to  manage  the 
railways. 

h.  Constitution  of  a  board  of  management  not  directly  represented 
in  Parliament. 

c.  Leasing  of  the  system  to  one  or  more  commercial  companies. 
[British  Board  of  Trade  Journal,  Nov.  28, 1918,  p.  677.] 

Wages  and  Arbitration. 

The  ministry  of  labor  has  called  attention  to  the  "  wages  (tempo- 
rary regulation)  act"  which  recently  passed  through  Parliament. 
The  main  purpose  of  the  new  act  is  to  secure  the  maintenance  for  a 
period  of  six  months  of  the  minimum  wages  generally  applicable  at 
the  date  of  the  signing  of  the  armistice  in  each  trade  or  branch  of  a 
trade  or  district  to  each  class  of  workmen,  except  in  so  far  as  these 
minimum  wages  are  varied  by  arbitration  or  by  agreement  with  the 
approval  of  the  minister  of  labor.  The  act  provides  for  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  court  of  arbitration  which  will  deal  with  differences 
referred  to  it  by  the  ministry  of  labor,  in  cases  where  the  parties 
have  been  unable  to  settle  as  to  what  the  prescribed  rate  should  be. 
The  minister  of  labor  has  established  ;i  wages  and  arbitration  depart- 
ment to  deal  with  questions  relating  to  wages,  etc. — [British  Board 
of  Trade  Journal,  Nov.  28,  1918,  p.  696.] 


136  FOEEIGN  KEADJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

Disabled  Men  Discharged  and  the  Workmen's  Compensation  Act. 

In  view  of  the  fear  expressed  that  disabled  men  are  more  liable  to 
meet  with  accident  in  the  course  of  employment  or  to  make  the  results 
of  an  accident  more  serious  than  they  would  be  normally,  the  Govern- 
ment has  decided  in  principle  that  any  increased  charge  incurred 
for  compensation  in  respect  of  disabled  men  shall  be  borne  by  the 
State,  and  has  adopted  a  scheme  which  has  been  worked  out  by  a 
home  office  committee.  The  scheme  proposes  that  an  arrangement 
should  be  entered  into  by  the  Government  with  the  insurance  com- 
panies by  which  the  companies  would  undertake  to  insure  disabled 
men  at  the  general  rates  for  the  occupation,  and  not  to  increase  their 
general  rates  in  the  future  as  the  result  of  the  employment  of  dis- 
abled men,  the  Governmeilt  under  certain  conditions  to  reimburse  the 
loss,  if  any,  w^hich  the  companies  may  thereby  incur.  In  the  case 
of  large  firms  who  carry  their  own  risk  the  Government  proposes 
to  enter  into  special  arrangements,  if  so  desired,  to  reimburse  the 
firms  for  any  increase  over  the  normal  charge  which  they  may  incur 
in  respect  to  the  disabled  men  whom  they  employ.  The  details  of  the 
scheme  are  being  completed  and  will  be  announced  later. — [British 
Board  of  Trade  Journal,  Nov.  28, 1918,  p.  696.] 
Woolen  and  Worsted  Industry,  Needs  of. 

The  army  council  has  appointed  a  wool  council : 

1.  To  advise  as  to  the  needs  of  the  woolen  and  worsted  industry  in 
regard  to  raw  materials  during  the  transition  period. 

2.  To  prepare  plans  which  will  facilitate  the  turnover  from  war 
to  peace  conditions. 

3.  To  act  as  an  advisory  body  to  the  war  office  on  matters  outside 
the  terms  of  reference  of  the  board  of  control  of  the  woolen  and 
worsted  industry. 

4.  To  advise  and  assist  Government  departments  and  any  recog- 
nized organization  connected  with  the  industry,  on  such  matters  as 
may  be  referred  to  them. 

The  council  is  composed  of  representatives  of  trade  and  labor 
organizations,  the  war  office,  board  of  trade,  ministry  of  reconstruc- 
tion, and  ministry  of  labor.  The  first  meeting  of  the  council  was 
held  on  November  21,  1918. — [British  Board  of  Trade  Journal,  Nov. 
28, 1918,  p.  678.] 

Transport  of  Peace  Material. 

In  June,  1918,  the  minister  of  reconstruction  established  an  inter- 
departmental committee  to  deal  with  the  difficulties  of  storage  and 
transport  to  be  met  at  the  close  of  the  war.  This  storage  and  transit 
committee  has  been  given  executive  power  to  enable  it  to  allocate 
storage  accommodations  between  departments  and  to  adjust  counter- 
claims should  they  arise.    One  principle  governing  the  evacuation  of 


UNITED  KINGDOM.  137 

all  storage  places  occupied  by  Government  departments  is  that  they 
shall  be  evacuated  one  by  one  in  the  order  of  precedence  laid  down 
by  the  dock,  wharfage,  and  other  authorities  in  reports  which  they 
have  presented  to  the  committee. — [British  Board  of  Trade  Journal, 
Nov.  28, 1918,  p.  692.] 
Munitions  Plants  and  Machinery  for  Civil  Work. 

The  minister  of  munitions  has  announced,  under  date  of  Novem- 
ber 21,  1918,  that  contractors  in  possession  of  plants  and  machinery 
owned  by  the  ministry  of  munitions,  who  wish  to  use  such  plants  and 
machinery  for  civil  work,  may  do  so  on  condition  that  they  notify 
the  superintendent  engineer  in  their  area  within  one  week  from  the 
date  on  which  the  plants  and  machinery  were  first  used  for  purposes 
other  than  those  for  which  they  w^ere  provided.  The  use  of  such 
plants  and  machinery  will  impose  no  obligation  on  the  contractor  to 
purchase,  or  on  the  ministry  to  sell,  although  should  a  sale  not  be 
effected  to  the  contractor  he  will  be  required  to  pay  a  reasonable  hire 
and  to  release  the  machinery  when  requested  to  do  so. — [British 
Board  of  Trade  Journal,  Nov.  28,  1918,  p.  698.] 

Demobilization  and  Resettlement. 

When  general  demobilization  of  men  serving  Avith  the  forces 
begins,  priority  of  release  will  be  given  to  officers  and  men  who  have 
definite  employment  awaiting  them. 

Instructions  to  employers  having  such  positions  open  and  the  forma 
to  be  used  by  them  have  been  prepared. 

Officers  and  men  in  the  forces  will  be  provided  with  a  civil  em- 
ployment form  on  which  they  may  state  Avhether  an  employer  has 
promised  them  work,  whether  they  wish  their  names  to  be  sub- 
mitted to  a  particular  employer,  or  giving  other  information  as  to- 
their  intentions.  These  forms  when  filled  up  will  be  transmitted^ 
through  the  proper  channels,  to  the  local  district  director  of  the 
appointments  department  or  to  the  employment  exchange.  Men  for 
whom  it  is  thus  ascertained  that  vacancies  are  awaiting  will  be 
termed  "slipmen";  and  subject  to  naval  and  military  considera- 
tions, they  will  receive  priority  of  release  when  general  demobiliza- 
tion begins. 

Arrangements  are  being  made  for  a  strictly  limited  number  of 
men  to  be  released  in  advance  of  general  demobilization,  namely, 
"  pivotal  men  " ;  that  is,  men  whose  early  release  will  be  of  immedi- 
ate national  value,  for  purposes  of  reconstruction,  or  to  facilitate  the 
absorption  of  the  returning  soldiers  and  of  unemployed  labor.  A 
selection  has  been  made  by  the  ministry  of  labor  of  the  industries,, 
businesses,  and  professions  which  are  entitled  to  a  share  in  this, 
limited  pool  of  men. 


138  FOREIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

An  elaborate  scheme  of  demobilization  and  reemployment,  in 
which  this  principle  is  applied,  has  been  outlined  and  is  being  used 
by  the  British  Government. — [British  Board  of  Trade  Journal,  Nov. 
28,  1918,  p.  693;  Dec.  19,  1918,  p.  795.] 

Postwar  Financial  Policy. 

The  first  interim  report  of  a  committee  appointed  in  January, 
1918,  by  the  British  treasury  and  the  ministry  of  reconstruction  to 
consider  various  problems,  which  will  arise  in  connection  with  cur- 
rency and  foreign  exchanges  during  the  period  of  reconstruction,  has 
been  made.  It  reviews  the  present  financial  situation  and  makes 
certain  recommendations. — [Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Com- 
merce, Dec.  2,  1918,  p.  833.] 
Nonferrous  Metal  Industry. 

Announcement  has  been  made  of  the  formation  of  the  British 
Metal  Corporation,  capitalized  at  5,000,000  pounds  ($24,330,000). 
The  board  of  directors  contains  a  prominent  official  of  the  depart- 
ment of  munitions  and  three  members  of  the  board  of  trade  com- 
mittee, who  reported  on  the  position  of  the  nonferrous  metals  trade 
after  the  war,  the  outcome  of  which  was  the  passage  by  Parliament 
of  the  nonferrous  metals  act.  The  corporation  will  provide  ma- 
chinery for  carrying  on  a  form  of  control  over  the  nonferrous  metal 
industry. — [Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Dec.  3, 
1918,  p.  849.] 
War  Risk  Cargo  Insurance. 

Notice  has  been  given  that  on  and  after  December  9,  1918,  the 
granting  of  fresh  insurances  on  cargo  against  the  war  risks  by  the 
war  risk  insurance  office  will  be  discontinued  except  in  special 
cases.  The  underwriting  office  will  remain  open  for  the  closing  of 
provisional  insurance. — [British  Board  of  Trade  Journal,  Dec.  5, 
1918,  p.  703.] 

House  Building,  State  Help  for. 

The  minister  of  reconstruction  appointed  a  committee  to  consider 
how  to  encourage  private  enterprises  in  building  houses  for  the 
working  people.  This  committee  has  presented  an  interim  report 
dealing  with  public  utility  societies. 

A  public  utility  society  is  one  registered  under  the  industrial  and 
provident  societies  act,  which  limits  its  interest  and  dividend  to  5  per 
cent.  The  committee  recommended  that  loans  of  80  per  cent  of  the 
value  of  any  housing  scheme  carried  out  by  such  a  society  should  be 
made  by  the  State  at  the  lowest  rate  at  which  it  can  lend  without 
loss.  Repayment  may  be  spread  over  50  years,  and  advances  made 
during  building.  The  majority  of  the  committee  expressed  the 
opinion  that  if  the  State  wants  houses,  it  should  bear  the  whole  loss 
incurred  by  a  society  in  building  at  once;  otherwise,  there  will  be 


UNITED  KINGDOM.  139 

temptation  to  wait  until  building  is  cheaper,  and  houses  urgently 
needed  will  not  be  forthcoming. — [British  Board  of  Trade  Journal, 
Dec.  5,  1918,  p.  710.] 

Demobilization;  Pivotal  Men  Released  for  Work  in  Ports. 

The  central  advisory  (port-labor)  committee  has  been  formed  by 
the  minister  of  labor  for  the  purpose  of  advising  the  minister  on 
general  questions  relating  to  labor  in  the  ports,  coordinating  the 
work  of  the  local  port-labor  committees,  and  allocating  the  pivotal 
men  to  be  released  from  the  army  for  work  in  the  ports  to  the  differ- 
ent ports  claiming  service. — [British  Board  of  Trade  Journal,  Dec. 
5,  1918,  p.  728.] 

Notice  of  Discharge  to  Munition  Workers. 

Munition  workers,  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the  mu- 
nitions of  war  act,  1917,  are,  with  certain  specified  exceptions,  en- 
titled to  a  week's  notice  of  discharge,  or  a  week's  wages  in  lieu  of 
notice. — [British  Board  of  Trade  Journal,  Dec.  5,  1918,  p.  728.] 
Demobilized  Men,  New  Reserve  for. 

In  order  to  make  provision  for  the  recall  of  men  released  from  the 
colors  in  the  event  of  an  emergency  remobilization  becoming  neces- 
sary, the  army  council  has  decided  to  form  a  new  class  of  army  re- 
serve to  be  designated  class  Z,  which  will  be  kept  open  until  the  de- 
posit of  the  ratification  of  the  Treaty  of  Peace. 

All  men  released  from  service  with  the  colors  will  be  passed  to  this 
class,  except  men  to  be  discharged  as  physically  unfit  for  further 
service  or  on  medical  gro'unds  and  certain  others.  Class  Z  army 
reservists  will  receive  no  pay  from  army  funds,  they  will  not  wear 
uniforms  nor  be  subject  to  military  discipline,  and  their  placing  in 
this  class  will  not  interfere  with  their  resettlement  in  civil  life  nor 
be  a  bar  to  their  emigration  or  repatriation  oversea. — [British  Board 
of  Trade  Journal,  Dec.  5,  1918,  p.  728.] 
Apprenticeship,  State-Aided. 

Provision  is  being  made,  through  the  employment  department  of 
the  ministry  of  labor,  for  the  technical  and  commercial  training  of 
discharged  officers  and  men  of  like  standing.  The  ministry  has  set 
up  two  committees  to  advise  the  department:  One,  on  training  and 
education,  technical  and  commercial;  and  the  other  on  the  resettle- 
ment of  ex-officers.  A  scheme  of  State  assistance  has  been  devised-  for 
apprentices  whose  apprenticeship  has  been  interrupted  by  war- 
service. — [Report  of  the  U.  S.  commercial  attache,  London,  Dec.  6, 
1918.] 

Housing  Needs. 

It  is  estimated  that  100,000  new  houses  are  needed  in  London  alone. 
The  London  County  council  has  106  acres  on  which  houses  are  to  be 
built  at  once,  which  can  accommodate  17,000  persons.    It  is  proposed 


140  FOREIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

to  spend  3,500,000  pounds  ($17,032,760)  on  this  program.  Other  coun- 
cils in  Greater  London  have  made  application  to  erect  houses  on  60,000 
acres.  The  local  Government  board  has  a  scheme  for  erecting  300,000' 
houses,  and  various  municipal  authorities  have  also  plans  under  way, 
but  the  procuring  of  the  material  required  is  a  great  problem.  The 
British  industries  at  present  can  not  furnish  all  these  materials  and 
the  Government  will  have  to  import  considerable  quantities.  A 
fairly  reliable  estimate  is  that  500,000  houses  are  needed  in  the  United 
Kingdom  at  once,  to  cost  $1,000,000,000.— [Reports  of  U.  S.  com- 
mercial attache,  London,  England,  Dec.  6,  14,  1918,  Commerce  Re- 
ports, U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Dec.  31,  1918,  p.  1219 ;  Jan.  21, 
1919,  p.  324.] 
Dye  Industry,  State  Aid  to. 

A  white  paper  (Cd.  9194)  has  been  presented  to  Parliament  con- 
taining a  memorandum  by  the  board  of  trade  on  the  scheme  for 
State  assistance  to  the  dye  industry.  This  memorandum  deals  with 
the  allocation  and  administration  of  the  funds  provided  by  Parlia- 
ment for  the  development  of  the  British  dye  industry  by  means  of 
financial  assistance  to  companies  and  firms  in  aid  of  developments, 
extensions,  and  research. — [Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Com- 
merce, Dec.  9,  1918,  p.  933.] 
Loans  for  Local  Public  "Works. 

The  local  Government  board  or  other  appropriate  department  is, 
in  conjunction  with  the  treasury,  prepared  to  consider  applications 
from  local  authorities  for  permission  to  raise  loans  in  order  to  enable 
them  to  put  into  operation  schemes  of  public  utility,  such  as  housing, 
water  supply,  sewerage,  hospitals,  gas  and  electricity,  and  mainten- 
ance and  construction  of  roads,  which  are  of  urgent  importance. — 
[British  Board  of  Trade  Journal,  Dec.  12,  1918,  p.  742.] 
Workmen  from  Overseas,  Return  and  Resettlement  of. 

The  minister  of  labor  has  announced  that  in  addition  to  free  con- 
veyance home  for  British  workmen  from  overseas  after  working  con- 
tinuously on  Government  contracts,  a  sum  of  5  pounds  will  be  paid 
toward  the  expenses  of  resettlement;  and  between  2  and  5  pounds 
will  be  paid  in  respect  to  the  expenses  during  the  sea  passage,  varying 
according  to  the  distance  traveled. — [British  Board  of  Trade  Journal^ 
Dec.  12, 1918,  p.  760.] 
Agricultural  Reconstruction,  Organization  for. 

A  temporary  establishment  will  be  formed  by  the  amalgamation 
of  various  branches  within  the  board  of  agriculture  and  fisheries,, 
"which  will  be  charged  with  all  reconstruction  measures  for  the 
better  organization  of  the  commercial  side  of  agriculture,  with  the- 
farmers'  supplies,  rural  transport,  and  cognate  matters.  It  will 
also  supervise  the  provision  of  colleges  and  other  buildings  on  small 


UInTITED  kikgdom.  141 

lioldings,  and  farm  colonies  required  for  the  resettlement  of  service 
men  on  the  land.— [British  Board  of  Trade  Journal,  Dec.  12,  1918, 
p.  761.] 

Troposed  Improvement  of  Governmental  Machinery. 

The  ministry  of  reconstruction  has  published  a  report  of  its  com- 
mittee on  machinery  of  Government,  in  which  it  advises  the  extension 
of  research  meant  to  "  organize  the  knowledge  required  for  the  appli- 
•cation  of  science  to  industry."  Proposals  are  offered  for  the  elimi- 
nation of  overlapping  and  consequent  confusion  in  the  work  of  the 
departments.  They  propose  that  better  parliamentary  control  be 
secured  through  improvement  and  clarification  of  estimates  and 
accounts.  The  departments  are  reported  upon,  individually ;  internal 
alterations  are  suggested;  and  improvement  of  interdepartmental 
relations  recommended,  as,  for  example,  acquaintance  by  the  treasury 
with  the  work  of  other  departments  "  desirable  to  dissipate  the  tradi- 
tion that  all  departments  have  a  natural  disposition  to  extravagance, 
and  that  the  treasury  is  irreconcilably  opposed  to  all  increases  of 
expenditure."  It  is  suggested  that  the  appointment  of  a  minister 
of  justice  might  facilitate  legal  reform. — [Machinery  of  British 
Government  committee's  report,  Dec.  14,  1918.] 

Industrial  Readjustment. 

The  Federation  of  British  Industries,  at  its  annual  meeting,  de- 
clared itself  as  being  anxious  for  maximum  Government  support 
and  minimum  control.  It  considered  that  tod  much  continued  Gov- 
ernment supervision  was  a  "  strangle-hold  on  industry." — [Christian 
Science  Monitor,  Boston,  Mass.,  Dec.  15,  1918.] 

Labor  Program. 

The  labor  party's  plan  for  reconstruction  includes  abolition  of 
secret  diplomacy,  withdrawal  of  troops  from  Kussia,  freedom  for 
Ireland  and  India,  and  withdrawal  of  Government  control. — [Sun, 
New  York,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  16,  1918.] 

Shipping  Policy. 

Ships  are  the  prime  factor  in  British  reconstruction.  The ,  recon- 
struction ministry  and  private  owners  urge  building  of  many  ships 
to  keep  up  with  America  and  other  competitors.  Quality  and  low 
cost  of  production  are  the  chief  aim. — [Sun,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Dec. 
16,  1918.] 

British  Wool  Council. 

As  a  result  of  trade  conferences  called  by  the  war  office  and  held 
in  London  in  October,  a  British  wool  council  has  been  formed  in 
place  of  the  board  of  control  to  prepare  plans  for  the  relaxation  and 
ultimate  abolition  of  control,  and  to  facilitate  the  turn-over  from 
war  to  peace  conditions.    The  council  is  authorized  to  deal  with  any 


142  FOKEIGN  KEADJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

other  matters  which  may  be  referred  to  it  by  the  war  office,  the  board 
of  trade,  the  ministry  of  reconstruction,  the  board  of  control,  or  any 
recognized  trade  or  labor  association  connected  with  the  industry. 
The  council  consists  of  41  trade  members,  23  representing  employers 
and  18  employees.  It  is  understood  that  the  Government  depart- 
ments will  have  12  representatives  in  the  council,  but  they  will  not 
have  any  right  to  vote. — [Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Com- 
merce, Dec.  18,  1918,  p.  1058.] 

Continuance  of  Control  of  Wool  Trade. 

The  director  of  wool-textile  production  recently  called  attention 
to  the  need  for  continued  control  of  the  wool  trade.  The  particular 
form  of  Government  control  which  may  be  necessary  is  a  matter  to  be 
considered  by  the  reconstruction  committee  to  be  set  up  by  the  wool 
council,  and  it  is  intended  by  the  war  office  that  very  free  discussion 
shall  take  place  before  the  form  of  machinery  to  be  set  up  is 
decided  upon. — [Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Dec. 

18,  1918,  p.  1057.] 

New  Method  of  Handling  Irish  Plax. 

As  a  result  of  what  is  termed  "  a  revolution  in  flax  handling,"  the 
growing  of  flax  on  an  extensive  scale  in  Ireland  now  seems  assured. 
Recently  invented  mechanical  devices  have  so  lessened  the  amount  of 
manual  labor  required  that  this  big  problem  of  the  industry  appears 
to  be  solved. — [Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Dec. 

19,  1918,  p.  1079.] 

Price  of  Cereals  Guaranteed  for  1919. 

The  board  of  agriculture  and  fisheries  has  given  notice  to  farmers 
that  the  prices  to  be  fixed  for  the  1919  crop  of  the  cereals  at  present 
controlled  will  in  no  case  be  less  than  the  prices  at  present  in  opera- 
tion for  the  1918  crop.  These  cereals  are  rye,  wheat,  oats,  and  bar- 
ley. The  notice  applies  to  England  and  Wales  only. — [British  Board 
of  Trade  Journal,  Dec.  19,  1918,  p.  797.] 
Methods  for  Handling  Unsupported  and  Unemployed. 

A  report  published  by  the  local  Government  committee  states  that 
County  and  Borough  councils  should  provide  maintenance  and  educa- 
tion for  all  unsupported  children ;  and  care  and  support  for  the  sick, 
infirm,  and  mentally  defective.  Unemployed  able-bodied  adults 
should  be  handled  by  a  committee  on  unemployment  and  training,  to 
act  in  conjunction  with  the  Government  employment  exchange. 
When  no  employment  is  available  to  one  seeking  employment,  he 
should  be  offered  training  for  suitable  employment  which  is  avail- 
able. If  he  refuses  both  employment  and  training,  and  such  refusal 
results  in  neglect  to  care  for  himself  or  his  family ;  and  if  such  refusals 
are  repeated  and  persisted  in,  he  should  be  sent  to  a  detention  colony 


UNITED  KINGDOM.  143 

on  order  from  a  magistrate,  subject  to  an  appeal.  One  or  two  such 
colonies  are  estimated  to  be  sufficient  for  the  whole  country  if  the 
work  of  the  employment  exchanges  and  the  unemployment  and 
training  committee  is  efficiently  performed. — [Local  British  Govern- 
ment committee's  report  on  "  Transfer  of  Functions  of  Poor  Law 
Authorities  in  England  and  Wales,"  Dec.  19,  1917.] 
Land  for  ex-Soldiers. 

The  ministry  of  reconstruction  has  published  a  report  of  its  ad- 
visory council,  wherein  it  recommends  that  County  councils  acquire 
land  by  purchase  or  lease  to  equip  soldiers  desiring  small  holdings; 
that  means  for  housebuilding  and  reclamation  be  made  available; 
and  that  men  be  trained  in  agriculture.  The  question  is  raised  as  to 
the  number  of  soldiers  desiring  such  places;  and  as  to  the  worth  of 
such  a  place  to  a  man,  unless  he  were  a  tradesman  of  some  sort  who 
could  supplement  with  earnings  the  produce  of  his  small  landhold- 
ing.  Desirability  of  village  life  is  dwelt  upon,  and  suggestions  are 
made  for  the  provision  of  a  village  hall  in  each  village.  It  is  pro- 
posed that  the  State  pay  ex-service  men  enough  to  make  their  incomes 
equal  to  prevailing  earnings  of  farm  laborers.  A  minority  report  of 
the  council  casts  doubt  on  the  availability  of  land  in  England  for 
such  small  holdings. — [British  advisory  council's  report,  sec.  IV, 
Dec.  20,  1918.] 

Cost  of  Living  of  the  Working  People. 

A  committee  appointed  by  the  chancellor  of  the  exchequer  on  Mar. 
21,  1918,  to  inquire  into  and  report  upon  the  actual  increase  since 
June,  1914,  in  the  cost  of  living  of  the  working  people  and  any 
counter-balancing  factors,  apart  from  increase  of  Avages,  which  may 
have  arisen  under  war  conditions,  has  issued  a  report  in  which  it  is 
estimated  that  the  average  rise  in  family  expenditures  of  the  working 
people  between  July,  1914,  and  June,  1918,  was  74  per  cent,  the  in- 
crease of  expenditures  of  skilled  workers  being  67  per  cent  and  of 
unskilled  workers  81  per  cent.  Counter-balancing  factors,  other  than 
increased  wages,  were  abundance  of  employment,  rise  of  workers 
from  unskilled  to  skilled  groups,  and  a  large  addition  of  women  to 
industry  who  have  supplemented  family  incomes. — [Commerce  Re- 
ports, U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Dec.  26,  1918,  p.  1153.] 

Reconstruction. 

The  Sinn  Feiners  of  Ireland  elected  to  the  House  of  Commons  will 
not  take  their  seats.  They  will  forfeit  the  150  pounds  which  they  had 
to  post  as  an  election  fee,  and  which  is  returnable  only  when  a  member 
takes  his  oath  and  his  seat.  In  the  meantime,  the  Government  in 
Ireland  is  concerned  mostly  with  the  problem  of  reconstruction  of 
industry,  and  plans  are  being  prepared  for  the  expenditure  of  money 


144  foeeig:n-  eeadjustmei^t  and  reconstruction. 

on  industrial  and  agricultural  improvements.  This  movement  may  be 
affected  adversely  by  the  absence  of  Ireland's  members  from  Parlia- 
ment, if  the  Sinn  Feiners  carry  out  their  threat. — [Star-Eagle,  New- 
ark, N.  J.,  Dec.  27,  1918.] 

EeadJTistment  of  Industry  to  Peace  Conditions. 

The  parliamentary  secretary  of  the  ministry  of  munitions  predicts 
that  British  manufacturers  will  turn  over  to  peace  production  more 
readily  than  they  did  to  a  war  footing. — [Keport  of  U.  S.  com- 
mercial attache,  London,  Dec.  6,  1918,  Commerce  Keports,  U.  S. 
Dept.  of  Commerce,  Dec.  31,  1918,  p.  1217.] 

Disposal  of  War  Materials. 

Motor-car  manufacturers,  as  well  as  manufacturers  in  other  lines, 
are  bringing  pressure  to  bear  on  the  Government  to  so  regulate  the 
sale  of  war  stock  as  not  to  injure  their  business  during  the  period  of 
readjustment. — [Report  of  XT.  S.  commercial  attache,  London,  Dec. 
6,  1918,  Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Dec.  31,  1918, 
p.  1219.] 

Operation  of  Railroads  by  the  Government. 

The  minister  of  munitions  has  announced  that  the  British  Govern- 
ment expects  to  take  over  the  operation  of  the  railways,  as  improved 
transport  facilities  are  needed  to  enable  a  rapid  revival  of  industry ; 
and  there  is  evidently  no  way  in  which  private  interests  can  properly 
handle  this  problem  in  the  United  Kingdom,  at  least  under  present 
conditions. — [Report  of  U.  S.  commercial  attache,  London,  Dec.  6, 
1918,  Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Dec.  31,  1918, 
p.  1219.] 
Work  of  the  Ministry  of  Reconstruction  in  1918. 

In  its  report  to  Parliament  for  the  period  ended  December  31, 1918, 
the  ministry  of  reconstruction,  which  was  formed  in  August,  1917, 
"  to  consider  and  advise  upon  the  problems  which  may  arise  out  of  the 
present  war,  and  may  have  to  be  dealt  with  upon  its  termination; 
and  for  the  purposes  aforesaid,  to  institute  and  conduct  such  en- 
quiries, prepare  such  schemes,  and  make  such  recommendations  as 
it  thinks  fit,"  tells  of  the  work  undertaken  by  its  various  branches 
as  follows: 

1.  The  transitional  economics  branch  dealt,  generally,  with  the 
economic  questions  of  supply  and  control  created  by  the  shortage 
of  tonnage,  raw  materials,  and  capital  arising  out  of  the  war;  and 
has  kept  in  close  touch  with  the  ministry  of  shipping,  in  view  of  the 
essential  connection  of  shipping  with  the  problem  of  raw  materials. 

2.  The  commerce  and  pt'oduction  branch  dealt  with  questions  of 
production  and  improved  commercial  organization  to  secure  increased 
production ;  questions  of  internal  transport,  power,  and  storage ;  and 


UNITED  KINGDOM.  145 

a  considerable  proportion  of  the  time  of  the  officials  of  this  branch 
has  been  occupied  in  dealing  with  personal  and  written  applications 
from  commercial  men  for  advice  on  schemes  for  developing  their 
business  after  the  war. 

3.  The  labor  and  industrial  branch  concerned  itself  with  all  ques- 
tions regarding  labor  and  industrial  organization  during  the  transi- 
tion period  from  war  to  peace,  its  first  problem  being  that  of  the 
demobilization  of  the  army,  the  reinstatement  of  members  of  the 
forces  in  civil  life,  and  the  resettlement  of  civilian  war-workers. 

4.  The  rural  development  branch  dealt  with  those  reconstruc- 
tion questions  specifically  affecting  the  rural  areas,  such  as  the 
development  of  its  resources  in  land  and  agriculture,  village  recon- 
struction and  rural  industries,  the  development  of  transport  facili- 
ties by  a  comprehensive  system  of  narrow-gauge  railways  in  rural 
areas,  land  for  sailors'  and  soldiers'  settlements,  means  for  attracting 
returning  sailors  and  soldiers  to  the  land,  and  the  economic  position 
of  women  in  agriculture. 

5.  The  social  development  branch  dealt  generally  with  questions 
affecting  the  social  (as  distinct  from  the  purely  industrial)  condi- 
tions of  life  in  the  United  Kingdom  during  the  transitional  period, 
and  its  main  business  has  been  that  associated  with  the  proposals  for 
the  establishment  of  a  ministry  of  health. — [British  ministry  of  re- 
construction report  for  period  ending  Dec.  31,  1918.] 

Import  and  Export  Restrictions,  Relaxation  of. 

There  has  been  a  certain  relaxation  of  import  and  export  restric- 
tions, and  it  is  probable  that  further  relaxations  will  steadily  take 
place  to  meet  the  needs  of  British  industry.  It  may  be  expected, 
however,  that  there  will  not  be  any  general  abandonment  of  import 
restrictions  until  British  industry  is  ready  to  meet  the  competition 
of  foreign  merchandise. — [Report  of  U.  S.  commercial  attache,  Lon- 
don, Dec.  6,  1918,  Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce, 
Dec.  31,  1918,  p.  1219.] 

Raw  Materials,  Relaxation  of  Control  of. 

Government  control  of  raw  materials  is  being  considerably  re-* 
laxed  to  enable  factories  to  shift  over  quickly  to  normal  production, 
but  regulation  is  still  being  employed  to  guide  industry  into  the 
most  fruitful  channels.  The  minister  of  reconstruction  has  given 
out  the  following  list  of  classes  of  work  to  which  materials  and  pro- 
ducing capacity  set  free  from  war  work  should,  as  far  as  possible, 
be  devoted  in  the  near  future: 

Maintenance,  repair,  and  replacement  of  existing  machinery  and 
plants  in  the  United  Kingdom. 

Maintenance,  repair,  and  renewals  for  railways,  tramways,  canals, 
roads,  harbors,  and  clocks  in  the  United  Kingdom. 

115488—19 10 


146  FOKEIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

Shipbuilding,  and  the  maintenance  and  repair  of  merchant  ships 
and  fishing  vessels  in  the  United  Kingdom. 

Manufacture  of  agricultural,  milling,  food-producing,  mining,  and 
textile  machinery,  machine  tools,  building  materials  and  equipment 
used  in  the  public  utility  services  in  the  United  Kingdom. 

Manufacture  of  approved  orders  placed  by  the  Government  of  the 
United  Kingdom,  the  Dominions,  or  the  Allies. 

Manufacture  of  goods  for  export,  subject  to  such  Government  reg- 
ulations of  export  as  may  from  time  to  time  be  found  necessary. — 
[Eeport  of  U.  S.  commercial  attache,  London,  Dec.  6,  1918,  Com- 
merce Keports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Dec.  31,  1918.  p.  1218.] 

Boys  and  Girls  in  Industry. 

The  ministry  of  reconstruction  has  caused  an  extensive  inquiry  to 
be  made  to  ascertain  the  condition  of  juvenile  employment  during  the 
war  and  probable  conditions  after  the  war.  Fully  3,000  reports  have 
been  returned ;  and  a  report  based  on  this  material,  and  recommend- 
ing how  this  juvenile  labor  problem  should  be  dealt  with,  is  being 
issued  by  the  ministry. 

After  describing  the  very  great  demand  there  had  been  for  juve- 
nile labor,  the  disproportionately  high  wages  which  this  labor  has 
earned,  and  the  long  hours  frequently  worked,  the  report  described 
the  effects  of  these  war  conditions  upon  the  young  people  themselves 
as  mischievous  and  demoralizing.  It  goes  on  to  urge  that,  though 
these  mischievous  effects  wrought  upon  the  rising  generation  of  the 
last  four  years  can  not  be  effaced,  they  need  not  be  intensified.  A 
scheme  is  recommended,  the  general  principle  of  which,  briefly,  is  to 
insure  that  all  boys  and  girls  thrown  out  of  work  on  the  return  of 
peace  should  be  maintained  in  conditions  which  would  prevent  them 
from  being  demoralized  by  unemployment;  to  improve  their 
physique,  their  character,  and  their  industrial  qualifications ;  and  to 
prepare  them  to  return  to  industry  as  soon  as  there  are  suitable 
openings. 

It  is  suggested  that  centers  for  unemployed  boys  and  girls  be  estab- 
lished in  all  towns  with  a  population  of  more  than  20,000,  managed 
by  committees  drawn  from  the  local  education  authorities,  the  juve- 
nile employment  committee,  trade-unions,  employers'  associations, 
and  other  organizations  concerned  with  the  welfare  of  young  people. 
They  should  be  financed  from  national,  not^  local  sources. — [British 
Board  of  Trade  Journal,  Dec.  5,  1918.  Commerce  Keports,  U.  S. 
Dept.  of  Commerce,  Dec.  31,  1918,  p.  1221.] 

Joint-Industrial  Councils. 

Considerable  progress  is  being  made  in  the  establishment  of  joint- 
industrial  councils.  One  of  their  main  functions  is  the  consideration 
of  wages,  hours,  and  working  conditions.    Demobilization  and  reset- 


UNITED  KINGDOM.  147 

tlement,  the  training  of  disabled  soldiers  and  sailors,  and  the  position 
of  apprentices  returning  from  military  service  are  also  receiving  at- 
tention.—[Monthly  Labor  Review,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor,  December, 
1918,  pp.  34-36.] 
The  Industrial  League. 

The  Industrial  League  began  in  a  very  small  way  by  the  occasional 
meeting  about  the  dinner  table  of  a  few  employers  and  labor  leaders 
for  the  purpose  of  frank  discussion  and  mutual  enlightenment.  It 
exists  for  the  sole  purpose  of  creating  a  better  relationship  between 
employer  and  employed.  Its  functions  are  purely  educational,  and  it 
is  prepared  to  place  any  information  in  its  possession  at  the  disposal 
of  its  members.  Those  eligible  for  membership  are  employers'  organ- 
izations and  individual  employers  of  labor;  firms,  trade-unions, 
and  labor  organizations  and  their  officials ;  employed  persons  of  either 
sex;  and  any  other  individuals  who  approve  of  the  objects  of  the 
league. — [Monthly  Labor  Review,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor,  December, 
1918,  pp.  40,  41.]  ^ 

Education. 

The  education  act,  1918,  effects  a  complete  change  of  principle  and 
method  in  the  national  system  of  education.  Its  main  proposals  may 
be  briefly  summarized  as  follows : 

1.  Preparation  by  local  educational  authorities  of  schemes  for  all 
forms  of  education  within  their  area. 

2.  Raising  the  age  limit  for  compulsory  full-time  attendance  at  a 
school  to  be  14  years  of  age. 

3.  Establishment  of  continuation  schools  for  compulsory  part-time 
education  up  to  18  years  of  age. 

4.  Restriction  of  the  employment  of  children. 

5.  Development  of  the  work  of  public  elementary  schools. 

6.  Promotion  of  the  health  and  physical  training  of  children  and 
young  persons. 

7.  Extension  of  the  work  of  local  educational  authorities  in  regard 
to  medical  inspection  and  medical  treatment  of  children. 

8.  Provision  of  nursery  schools  for  children  between  2  and  under 
5  years  of  age. 

[Monthly  Labor  Review,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor,  December,  1918, 
p.  42.] 

Housing  Program. 

Representatives  of  the  Federation  of  British  Industries,  of  the 
National  Alliance  of  Employers  and  Employed,  and  of  labor  gen- 
erally, met  in  London  recently  to  consider  the  scheme  outlined  in  the 
recent  reports  of  the  housing  committee  relating  to  the  formation  of 
public  utility  societies  as  a  partial  means  of  solution  of  the  housing 
problem.     The  scheme  aims  to  use  the  federation  organization  to 


148  FOKEIGN  KEADJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

bring  together  all  sections  of  the  communities  interested  in  the  pro- 
vision of  houses,  and  also  to  bring  together  members  of  the  building 
and  building  supply  trades,  and  to  secure  the  cooperation  and  sup- 
port of  organized  labor.  The  Government  has  agreed  to  provide  75 
per  cent  of  the  capital  required  for  the  public  utility  societies,  and 
the  societies  will  be  expected  to  find  the  other  25  per  cent.  The 
Government  loan  can  run  50  years. — [Monthly  Labor  Eeview,  U.  S. 
Dept.  of  Labor,  December,  1918,  pp.  331,  332.] 
XJrban  Housing  Recommendations. 

The  women's  housing  subcommittee  of  the  ministry  of  reconstruc- 
tion have  handed  in  an  interim  report  on  urban  housing,  advising 
that  any  houses  now  built  should  be  planned  with  reference  to  a 
higher  standard  of  living  than  that  which  prevailed  when  many  of 
the  housing  schemes  were  carried  through.  They  recommend  more 
space,  both  by  having  a  wider  frontage  and  by  planning  for  an  addi- 
tional room.  Each  cottage  should  have  a  minimum  of  six  rooms. 
Numerous  suggestions  are  given  as  to  the  interior  arrangement  of  the 
houses,  and  the  report  is  emphatic  in  its  recommendation  of  the  neces- 
sity for  a  bathroom  and  a  hot-water  supply.  A  central  hot-water 
system  for  a  whole  street  or  block  of  houses  is  advocated,  and  the  de- 
velopment of  cheap  electric  power  on  a  large  scale. — [Monthly  Labor 
Eeview,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor,  December,  1918,  pp.  335-337.] 
Sale  of  Securities  Authorized. 

jSTotification  is  given  by  the  treasury  permitting  the  sale  abroad  of 
foreign,  colonial,  and  Indian  securities  other  than  those  which  have 
been  the  subject  of  treasury  regulation  under  the  defense  of  the  realm 
act.  The  proceeds  of  such  sales,  however,  must  be  remitted  to  the 
country  and  retained  there. — [Federation  of  British  Industries  Bul- 
letin, Jan.  2,  1919,  p.  2.] 

Release  of  Coal  Miners. 

The  controller  of  coal  mines  announced  that  coal  miners  are  being 
demobilized  under  special  arrangements  made  between  the  various 
services  and  the  coal  mine  department,  and  colliery  proprietors  need 
take  no  action  for  the  return  of  their  former  employees,  except  such 
action  as  the  controller  from  time  to  time  may  ask  them  to  take. — 
[Federation  of  British  Industries  Bulletin,  Jan.  2,  1919,  p.  2.] 
Financing  Exports. 

The  minister  of  blockade  announces  that  a  notice  is  being  sent  to 
bankers  relieving  them  of  formalities  required  before  financing  ex- 
ports from  this  country  to  neutral  European  countries.  All  restric- 
tions and  returns  rendered  necessary  by  the  war  are  being  reviewed 
by  the  finance  section  of  the  ministry  of  blockade  with  a  view  to 
further  simplification. — [Federation  of  British  Industries  Bulletin, 
Jan.  2,  1919,  p.  2.] 


UNITED  KINGDOM.  149 

Proposals  for  Reforming  Government  Departments. 

The  committee  on  machinery  of  government  of  the  ministry  of 
reconstruction  has  issued  a  report  (Cd.  9230)  containing  proposals 
for  reforming  the  Government  departments.  The  report  is  divided 
into  two  parts:  The  first,  covering  the  functions  of  the  cabinet,  the 
formulation  of  policy,  the  allocation  of  functions  between  the  depart- 
ments, departmental  organization,  and  parliamentary  control;  the 
second  part  dealing  in  turn  with  each  of  10  groups  into  which  the 
business  of  the  various  departments  should  be  distributed.  These 
groups,  within  which  would  fall  all  classes  of  business  of  the  Gov- 
ernment, are  as  follows:  1.  Finance;  2  and  3,  national  defense  and 
external  affairs;  4,  research  and  information;  5,  production  (includ- 
ing agricultural,  forestry,  and  fisheries),  transport,  and  commerce;  6, 
employment;  7,  supplies;  8,  education;  9,  health;  10,  justice. — Fed- 
eration of  British  Industries  Bulletin,  Jan.  2,  1919,  p.  29.] 

Civil  Aerial  Transport. 

In  May,  1917,  the  British  Government  appointed  a  committee  to 
report  with  regard  to:  The  steps  that  should  be  taken  with  a  view 
to  the  development  and  regulation  after  the  war  of  aviation  for  civil 
and  commercial  purposes,  from  domestic,  imperial,  and  interna- 
tional standpoints;  the  extent  to  which  it  will  be  possible  to  utilize 
for  these  purposes,  the  trained  personnel  and  the  aircraft  which  the 
conclusion  of  peace  may  leave  surplus  to  the  requirements  of  the 
naval  and  military  air  services.  The  various  chapters  of  the  com- 
mittee's report  cover  the  following  subjects: 

1.  Municipal  control  and  legislation. 

2.  Technical  and  practical  questions  as  to  the  possibilities  of  per- 
formance of  aircraft,  and  as  to  requirements  of  aerial  services. 

3.  Business  questions  relating  to  the  position  of  the  aircraft  manu- 
facturing industry  after  the  war,  the  possibilities  of  the  establishment 
of  aerial  transport  services,  and  the  steps  which  would  be  necessary 
for  the  maintenance  of  this  industry  and  for  the  development  of 
these  services. 

4.  Questions  of  labor  arising  in  the  aircraft  manufacturing  indus- 
try and  in  aerial  transport  services. 

5.  Problems  of  scientific  research  and  the  special  education  of 
expert  designers,  engineers,  and  pilots. 

An  interesting  detail  is  a  memorandum  on  the  establishment  of 
an  air-mail  service,  one  machine  being  run  each  way  daily  between 
London  and  Glasgow,  via  Newcastle  and  Edinburgh. — [U.  S.  consul 
general,  London,  Dec.  10,  1918,  Commerce  Eeports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of 
Commerce,  Jan.  4,  1919,  p.  42.] 

Release  of  Sole  Leather  for  Civilian  Purposes. 

The  army  council  has  ordered  that  English  sole  leather,  except 
certain  classes,  be  released  for  civilian  purposes.     A  limit  is  placed 


150  FOREIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

upon  the  quantity  that  ma}^  be  purchased  h}^  any  individual. — [Cable- 
gram from  U.  S.  consul  general,  London,  Jan.  4,  1919,  Commerce 
Eeports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Jan.  9, 1919,  p.  113.] 
Rural  Development. 

The  ministry  of  reconstruction  is  embarking  upon  a  scheme  of 
rural  development,  by  the  construction  of  a  large  number  of  light 
railways  to  connect  the  country  districts  with  the  main  railways. 
The  cost  will  be  borne  in  part  by  the  county  authorities  and  in  part 
by  the  Government.  Upon  completion  the  lines  will  be  leased  to 
the  operating  companies  under  adequate  guarantees. — [Star,  Wash- 
ington, D.  C,  Jan.  9,  1919.] 

Increased  Shipping,  Space  Available  for  Cargo. 

The  ministry  of  shipping  announced  increased  tonnage  available 
for  bringing  imports  to  Great  Britain  by  10,000,000  tons  of  goods  a 
year.  The  amount  of  space  available  for  commercial  cargo  in  North 
America  is  doubled ;  and  instead  of  cargo  competing  for  space,  space 
is  now  competing  for  cargo. — [Cablegram  from  U.  S.  consul  general, 
London,  Jan.  6,  1919,  Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce, 
Jan.  9,  1919,  p.  113.] 

Purchase  of  Lumber  in  Canada. 

Great  Britain  has  negotiated  for  1,000,000,000  square  feet  of  Cana- 
dian lumber  of  all  grades  valued  at  approximately  $40,000,000.  It  is 
understood  that  this  will  be  allocated  among  the  several  timber 
Provinces. — [Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Jan.  15, 
1919,  p.  237.] 

Resumption  of  Steamship  Service  with  Canada. 

North  Atlantic  ocean  traffic  between  Canadian  ports  and  LifFey, 
Ireland,  by  direct  steamers  has  been  resumed  by  the  Ulster  Steam- 
ship Company  "Head  Line." — [Report  of  U.  S.  vice  consul  at 
Dublin,  Ireland,  Dec.  13,  1918,  Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of 
Commerce,  Jan.  15,  1919,  p.  283.] 

The  Dye  Industry. 

The  board  of  trade  has  appointed  a  trade  and  licensing  com- 
mittee, the  functions  of  which  will  be  to  determine  the  colors  and 
intermediates  which  shall  be  licensed  for  imports  into  the  United 
Kingdom  after  the  conclusion  of  peace,  and  in  what  quantities;  and 
to  advise  the  commissioner  for  dyes  as  to  color  and  intermediates  the 
manufacture  of  which  should  be  specially  encouraged,  and  the  order 
of  their  importance. — [British  Board  of  Trade  Journal,  Jan.  16, 
1919,  p.  66.] 

Demobilization  of  Royal  Air  Force  in  France. 

The  general  scheme  of  demobilization  for  the  Royal  Air  Force  in 
France  is  the  same  fundamentally  as  that  of  the  army.    The  actual 


UNITED  KINGDOM.  151 

demobilization  is  being  carried  out  by  the  headquarters  of  the  Koyal 
Air  Force;  but  after  demobilization,  the  dispersal  of  personnel  is 
through  army  channels.  Each  officer  or  enlisted  man  on  demobili- 
zation will  be  sent  to  the  military  dispersal  station  in  the  United 
Kingdom  nearest  to  hi&  own  home.  The  priority  scheme  laid  down 
by  the  war  office  is  being  observed  in  the  Royal  Air  Force.  "  Sur- 
plus Squadrons  "  will  fly  their  machines  to  England  to  aerodromes 
specified  by  the  air  ministry. — [British  Board  of  Trade  Journal,  Jan. 
16,  1919,  p.  89.] 
Transportation  Regulations. 

The  Government  has  announced  its  intention  to  propose  to  Parlia- 
ment the  establishment  of  a  ministry  of  ways  and  communications. 
The  prime  minister  has  also  announced  in  a  statement  to  the  national 
union  of  railway  men  on  January  10,  that  the  Government  will  in- 
troduce in  the  new  Parliament,  which  meets  on  February  4,  pro- 
posals for  dealing  with  the  whole  of  the  railways  transport  services, 
and  the  electrical  industry,  both  for  transport  and  power  purposes. — 
[Federation  of  British  Industries  Bulletin,  Jan.  16, 1919,  p.  22.] 

Demobilization,  Statistics  of. 

Since  the  date  of  the  armistice  and  up  to  noon  January  13,  8,390 
officers,  and  463,993  men  of  other  ranks,  have  been  demobilized  or 
otherwise  discharged  from  the  service.  In  the  same  period  2,130 
women  have  been  demobilized.  Men  are  being  released  from  the 
fighting  forces  at  the  rate  of  20,000  a  day,  and  this  figure  is  expected 
to  increase  to  50,000  shortly.  The  labor  exchanges  are  now  handling 
17,000  applications  daily. — [Federation  of  British  Industries  Bul- 
letin, Jan.  16,  1919,  p.  19.] 
Shipping  Difllculties. 

The  shipping  controller  has  issued  a  statement  expressing  the  de- 
sire that  the  tonnage  released  from  w^ar  service  which  is  now  being 
reallocated  should  be  so  distributed  as  to  meet  all  essential  require- 
ments. He  has,  therefore,  requested  shippers,  whether  exporters  or 
importers,  to  furnish  him  with  full  particulars  of  any  difficulties 
which  they  experience  due  to  port  congestion  or  other  causes  affect- 
ing the  free  movement  of  goods  overseas. — [Federation  of  British 
Industries  Bulletin,  Jan.  16,  1919,  p.  20.] 
Importation  of  Gold  and  Silver  Coin. 

An  order  in  council  of  January  14  modified  the  previous  order 
prohibiting  the  importation  of  foreign  coins,  and  authorized  for  the 
present  the  importation  of  gold  and  silver  coins. — [Commerce  Re- 
ports, U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Jan.  18,  .1919,  p.  273.] 
War-Savings  Organization  to  be  Retained. 

The  British  Government  has  decided  to  retain  the  present  organi- 
zation for  the  sale  of  national  war  bonds  and  war-savings  certificates 


152  FOREIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

as  a  permanent  part  of  the  national  machinery.  The  organization 
now  comprises  nearly  2,000  local  committees,  50,000  war-savings 
associations,  and  some  15,000  official  agencies,  through  which  war- 
savings  certificates  and  war-savings  stamps  can  be  purchased.  It  is 
almost  entirely  administered  by  volunteer  workers,  who  number 
about  250,000.— [U.  S.  consul  at  Dublin,  Ireland,  Dec.  4,  1919,  Com- 
merce Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Jan.  20,  1919,  p.  317.] 
War-Service  Men  in  New  Parliament. 

Of  the  703  members  elected  in  the  new  House  of  Commons,  250 
served  in  the  war,  while  the  whole  British  membership  owes  its  elec- 
tion to  war  services  of  one  sort  or  another.  All  ranks  of  the  army 
are  represented,  from  general  to  sergeant.  Not  only  the  army  and 
navy,  but  the  industries  of  the  war  will  have  their  representatives 
among  the  legislators.  No  other  British  Parliament  in  the  long 
history  of  this  institution  has  contained  so  many  men  from  whom 
the  country  might  reasonably  expect  so  much  vigor  and  originality 
and  so  keen  a  sense  of  the  realities  of  the  day. — [Star,  Washington, 
D.  C,  Jan.  22,  1919.] 

Clothing  for  Demobilized  Soldiers. 

An  alteration  has  been  made  in  the  arrangements  for  supplying 
suits  for  demobilized  soldiers.  It  was  at  first  intended  to  include 
these  in  the  standard-cloth  scheme,  so  that  the  soldiers  should  be 
able  to  go  into  any  store  and  on  presentation  of  coupons  obtain  a 
standard  suit  at  preferential  prices,  a  proposal  which  was  acceptable 
to  the  traders  concerned.  Under  the  new  arrangement,  says  the 
Yorkshire  Post,  each  demobilized  soldier  will  receive  a  suit  or  about 
$13  in  cash.  If  he  decides  to  have  a  suit,  he  will  choose  his  pattern 
of  cloth,  his  measurements  will  be  taken,  and  as  soon  as  possible 
afterwards  a  suit  will  be  forwarded  to  his  address.  He  will  be 
entitled  to  keep  his  uniform,  but  the  overcoat  will  have  to  be  re- 
turned, and  a  payment  of  $5  will  be  made  to  him  in  exchange  for 
it.  Men  who  do  not  desire  to  keep  their  uniforms  on  discharge  will 
be  able  to  sell  them  at  stores  to  be  set  up.  In  the  event  of  a  large 
quantity  of  suits  being  returned,  they  will  be  redyed  and  used  for 
clothing  needy  people  in  Allied  countries.  If  too  far  worn  to  be 
used  in  this  way,  they  will  be  turned  into  shoddy. — [Eeport  of  U.  S. 
consul  at  Leeds,  Dec.  6,  1918;  Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of 
Commerce,  Jan.  22,  1919,  p.  342.] 
Diversion  of  Material  for  Civilian  ClotMng. 

In  addition  to  the  diversion  of  the  material  for  making  suits  for 
demobilized  soldiers  it  is  proposed  to  divert  some  part  of  the  mate- 
rial intended  for  military  purposes  to  the  making  of  standard  cloth 
for  civilian  wear,  both  for  men  and  for  women. — [Report  of  IT.  S. 
consul  at  Leeds,  Dec.  6,  1918;  Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of 
Commerce,  Jan.  22, 1919,  p.  342.] 


UNITED  KINGDOM.  153 

Financial  Risk. 

The  minister  of  reconstruction  has  published  a  report  of  the  com- 
mittee on  "  Financial  risks  attached  to  the  holding  of  trade  stocks." 
This  committee  was  invited  to  inquire  and  report  as  to  any  measures 
which  could  be  adopted  with  a  view  to  securing  that  manufacturers 
and  others  should  be  financially  in  a  position  to  hold  stocks  after 
the  war;  and  that  reasonable  safeguards  should  be  established  to 
prevent  serious  financial  losses,  as  a  result  of  possible  depression  fol- 
lowing on  a  period  of  great  inflation  in  respect  to  stocks  of  materials 
required  for  industry.  The  committee  expressed  the  view  that  five 
main  causes  are  material  to  bring  about  a  drop  in  prices:  The  dis- 
appearance of  war-risk  insurance,  etc. ;  reduction  in  freights  due  to 
increased  availability  of  shipping;  fall  of  wages  compared  with 
rates  prevailing  during  the  war  due  to  increased  availability  of 
labor  on  demobilization;  additional  production  of  staple  articles 
now  standing  at  "scarcity  prices";  reduction  of  the  note  issue  to 
restore  an  effective  gold  standard,  or,  in  other  words,  "  deflation  "  of 
credit.  Three  lines  of  possible  relief  have  been  suggested  by  traders ; 
Lower  rates  of  taxation  during  the  war;  the  Government  to  bear  ^ 
share  (out  of  taxes  already  received)  in  any  losses  after  the  war;  a 
redefinition  of  "  profits  "  now  chargeable  to  taxation  by  way  of  per-^ 
mission  to  create  reserves  before  arriving  at  the  sum,  chargeable  to 
taxation  as  profits,  or  by  the  adoption,  when  making  up  periodical 
accounts,  of  different  principles  of  valuing  stocks  from  those  gen- 
erally obtaining  in  industry  hitherto,  or  admitted  by  the  taxing 
authorities.  The  committee  preface  their  general  recommendations 
by  saying  they  regard  as  most  desirable  that  the  position  of  industry 
should  be  specially  strengthened,  when  on  the  threshold  of  a  period 
in  which  the  markets  have  to  be  reorganized  or  created  and  in  which 
industrial  conditions  are  in  the  highest  degree  uncertain.  The  most 
hopeful  line  of  approach  to  a  solution  of  this  problem  lies,  they 
think,  in  a  reduction  of  the  present  rates  of  excess-profits  duty.  The 
committee  recognized  that  they  have  been  unable  to  formulate  any 
scheme  of  relief  for  those  who  pay  no  excess-profits  duty. — [British 
Board  of  Trade  Journal,  Jan.  23,  1919,  p.  98.] 

Reconstruction. 

The  main  committee  of  the  engineering  trades  division,  of  the  new 
industries  committee  of  the  ministry  of  reconstruction,  makes  certain 
general  observations  regarding  conditions  under  which  new  indus^ 
tries  should  be  set  up  if  they  are  to  develop  successfully,  touching 
upon  such  questions  as  finance  for  industry,  export  trade,  foreign 
competition,  improved  methods  necessary  if  British  engineers  are  to 
maintain  a  leading  position,  industrial  and  scientific  education,  and 
labor  conditions. — [Journal  of  Commerce,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Jan.^ 
23,  1919.] 


154  FOREIGN"  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

New  Engineering  Industries. 

The  ministry  of  reconstruction  has  published  a  report  of  the  engi- 
neering trades  division,  which  was  appointed  to  compile  a  list 
of  articles,  suitable  for  manufacture  by  those  with  engineering 
trade  experience  or  with  plants,  which  were  either  not  made  in 
the  United  Kingdom  before  the  war  but  were  imported  or  were 
made  in  the  United  Kingdom  in  insufficient  quantity  and  for  which 
there  is  likely  to  be  a  considerable  demand.  Branch  committees 
were  appointed,  each  of  which  gave  detail  consideration  to  one  of  the 
following  groups  of  articles:  Agricultural  machinery,  hollow-ware 
and  sheet-metal  machinery,  scientific  apparatus,  textile  machinery, 
light  section-rolling  and  extension  wire-drawing  machinery,  print- 
ing machinery,  printers'  general  machinery,  paper-making  machin- 
ery, leather-making  machinery,  aircraft,  and  motor  industry.  Each 
committee  consisted  of  expert  members  drawn  from  industries  ap- 
propriate to  its  group,  but  was  presided  over  by  a  member  of  the 
main  committee. — [British  Board  of  Trade  Journal,  Jan.  23,  1919, 
p.  100.] 

Aircraft  and  Bombardment  Insurance. 

No  new  insurance  will  be  granted  under  the  Government  aircraft 
bombardment  insurance  scheme  after  January  31,  1919.  Aircraft 
policies  which  are  still  in  force  cover  the  risk  of  damage  by  aircraft 
of  the  Royal  Air  Force,  and  aircraft  bombardment  policies  cover  in 
addition  the  risk  of  damage  by  the  explosion  of  mines  which  drift 
upon  the  coast.  Risks  hitherto  insurable  by  the  Government  policies 
are  now  left  to  the  open  market. — [British  Board  of  Trade  Journal, 
Jan.  23,  1919,  p.  95.] 

Employment  of  Disabled  Soldiers. 

The  minister  of  labor,  after  meeting  the  representatives  of  the 
national  federation  of  discharged  and  demobilized  sailors  and  sol- 
diers, conveyed  the  following  decisions  on  points  raised  by  them; 
With  regard  to  Government  factories,  the  disabled  soldier  employed 
in  the  same  will,  other  things  being  equal,  be  discharged  after  the 
dilutee  and  the  ex-service  man,  and  will  have  the  last  priority  of 
discharge  in  his  class  of  skill.  The  minister  of  labor  will  make  an 
appeal  to  all  factories,  other  than  Government  factories,  asking  them 
to  adopt  in  regard  to  this  matter  the  same  procedure  as  the  Govern- 
ment. He  will  obtain  the  necessary  powers  to  take  over  from  the 
ministry  of  pensions  the  responsibility  for  training  ex-service  men 
who  require  training ;  the  ministry  of  pensions  retaining,  however,  the 
powers  necessary  to  enable  them  to  deal  with  the  training  men,  while 
undergoing  medical  treatment — that  is,  training  in  establishments  of 
the  institute  type.  The  minister  of  labor  has  promised  to  schedule 
a  list  of  occupations  which  are  suitable  for  disabled  men;  and  an 


UNITED  KINGDOM.  155 

appeal  will  be  sent  out  by  the  prime  minister  urging  employers  to 
employ  disabled  men  in  such  occupations  when  a  post  becomes  va- 
cant, and  also  to  substitute  disabled  men  for  temporary  war  workers 
at  present  filling  such  posts.  With  regard  to  other  occupations  the 
employers  will  be  appealed  to  to  make  every  effort  to  employ  disabled 
men  wherever  possible.  The  ministry  of  pensions  will  obtain  powers 
to  proceed  with  the  setting  up  of  a  number  of  factories  solely  for 
the  employment  of  certain  classes  of  disabled  men,  who  on  account  of 
special  disability  may  be  found  to  be  unable  to  engage  in  ordinary 
industrial  occupations. — [British  Board  of  Trade  Journal,  Jan.  23, 
1919,  p.  122.] 

Casual  Labor. 

The  minister  of  labor  has  appointed  a  committee,  to  be  known  as 
the  port  of  London  casual  labor  committee^  consisting  of  representa- 
tives of  employers  and  working  people  in  the  London  dock  trade; 
to  inquire  and  report  what  action,  if  any,  should  be  taken  to  regulate 
the  work  and  reduce,  if  necessary,  the  number  of  casual  laborers  in 
the  London  docks;  and  also,  in  view  of  demobilization  of  the  army 
and  the  cessation  of  munition  work,  to  report  on  the  best  methods  of 
preventing  numbers  of  workmen  who  are  in  difficulties  as  regards 
finding  employment  in  their  own  trade  from  resorting  to  the  docks 
and  wharves  and  thus  making  the  conditions  of  employment  there 
more  irregular  than  before  the  war. — [British  Board  of  Trade  Jour- 
nal, Jan.  23, 1919,  p.  122.] 
Resumption  of  Shipping  Service. 

Arrangements  have  been  made  through  the  shipping  controller  to 
restore  as  quickly  as  possible  all  the  prewar  liners'  services.  Shippers 
and  merchants  are  therefore  advised  to  get  into  touch  with  the  ship- 
ping companies  which  previously  served  the  ports  abroad  to  or  from 
which  they  desire  to  ship  cargo.  He  draws  attention  to  the  announce- 
ment of  January  15,  as  to  the  early  release  of  general  tonnage  from 
requisition. — [British  Board  of  Trade  Journal,  Jan.  23, 1919,  p.  122.] 

Civil  Aviation. 

The  secretary  of  the  air  ministry  has  announced  that  the  civil 
aerial  transport  committee  is  proceeding  to  carry  into  effect  legisla- 
tion and  international  agreements  required  to  enable  civil  aviation 
to  be  recommenced  as  soon  as  possible.  To  provide  for  the  need  of 
civil  aviation,  as  Avell  as  for  the  needs  of  the  Koyal  Air  Force,  reor- 
ganization of  the  air  ministry  is  necessary,  and  that  reorganization  is 
being  carried  on.— [British  Board  of  Trade  Journal,  Jan.  23,  1919, 
p.  121.] 
Handling  Demobilization. 

In  accordance  with  the  principles  laid  down  in  the  Government's 
scheme  for  demobilization  of  the  forces,  namely,  that  the  men  demo- 


156  FOREIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

bilized  first  shall  include  those  who  have  been  ascertained  to  have 
definite  employment  awaiting  them,  and  that  the  highest  priority 
shall  be  given  to  pivotal  men,  the  Government  announced  on  Decem- 
ber 12,  1918,  a  plan  to  afford  employers  an  opportunity  of  securing- 
direct  communication  with  their  former  employees  to  whom  they 
can  now  offer  employment.  Such  a  definite  offer  of  employment,  in 
writing,  if  produced  to  his  commanding  officer  by  the  officer  or  man 
concerned,  will  be  accepted  as  evidence  that  employment  is  awaiting- 
him,  and  the  man  will  be  registered  by  his  commanding  officer  to  be 
demobilized. 

It  is  not  necessary  for  offers  of  employment  to  be  sent  to  officers  or 
men  for  whose  release  as  pivotal  men  application  has  been  made, 
and  officers  and  men  who  have  notified  their  commanding  gfficers  that 
their  civil  occupation  is  that  of  a  student  or  teacher.  Officers  and 
men  who  in  civil  life  practice  a  profession  or  are  their  own  employers 
can  secure  their  registration  for  demobilization  most  rapidly  by 
filling  in  their  own  civil-employment  forms.  Special  arrangements 
are  being  made  with  port  labor  committees  about  men  employed 
before  the  war  at  docks,  wharves,  and  harbors. 

Soldiers  will  be  discharged  at  their  domiciles  rather  than  at  the 
headquarters  of  their  regiments.  Each  soldier,  after  accounting  for 
his  equipment,  is  granted  a  28-day  furlough,  with  pay,  rations,  and 
family  allowances;  unemployment  insurance  payable  for  20  weeks 
within  one  year  from  date  of  discharge;  a  railway  warrant  for  the 
journey  home ;  and  any  gratuities  that  may  be  due  him. 

At  present  there  are  three  classes  of  men  being  demobilized — coal 
miners,  certain  shipyard  workers,  and  "pivotal  men."  The  latter 
group  includes  those  whose  return  will  be  of  the  greatest  immediate- 
value  in  creating  employment  for  others  and  in  reconstructing  indi- 
vidual business  and  professional  life. — [Report  of  clerk  to  the  Ameri- 
can consulate,  London,  Dec.  18,  1918,  Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept. 
of  Commerce,  Jan.  24, 1918,  p.  372.] 
Flour  Allowance. 

British  food  controller  has  authorized  householders  to  purchase 
and  keep  in  the  house  up  to  one  sack  of  flour  per  household,  notwith- 
standing existing  orders. — [Report  of  U.  S.  consul  general,  London,. 
Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Jan.  28, 1919,  p.  417.] 

Keduced  Shipping  Rates. 

British  shipping  interests  announced  January  27  a  cut  of  more 
than  66S  per  cent  in  all  rates  to  Europe.  The  new  rates  do  not 
apply  to  Government  cargo.  Five  big  shipping  interests  are  repre- 
sented in  the  combination  which  arranged  the  cut  in  rates. — [Sun,. 
New  York,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  28, 1919,  p.  11.] 


UNITED  KINGDOlVf.  157 

Increased  Activity  in  the  Cotton  Industry.  ' 

The  British  cotton  board  has  permitted  an  increase  of  10  per  cent 
in  the  amount  of  machinery  to  run  in  the  cotton  trade.  It  is  reported 
that  these  concessions  are  granted  on  account  of  the  fact  that  at  the 
present  time  more  cotton  is  available,  and  that  the  men  are  being 
released  from  the  arm}^. — [Report  of  the  U.  S.  consul,  Manchester, 
Jan.  23,  1919;  Commerce  Eeports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Jan. 
28,  1919,  p.  417.] 
Demobilization. 

At  a  special  meeting  of  the  cabinet,  recommendation  was  made  that 
a  standing  army  of  1,000,000  be  maintained  for  the  purpose  of  prop- 
erly garrisoning  the  various  English  colonies  and  for  the  army  of 
occupation.  This  means  that  three  out  of  every  four  men  will  be 
demobilized  and  the  fourth  retained  "  to  finish  the  job."  The  men 
thus  retained  until  the  reorganization  of  the  new  standing  peace 
army  will  have  their  pay  largely  increased  and  a  new  scheme  of  leave 
will  be  introduced.— [Sun,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  29,  1919.] 
War  Memorials. 

Construction  of  war  memorials  in  England  is  to  be  taken  up  at 
once  on  a  large  scale.  A  veterans'  club,  containing  1,000  bedrooms, 
and  a  convalescent  home  for  discharged  men,  costing  approximately 
$5,000,000,  are  being  planned  by  the  veterans'  association.  A  hotel 
in  London,  to  be  known  as  the  "  Overseas  Memorial,"  for  the  accom- 
modation of  overseas  men  and  women,  is  also  being  planned. — [U.  S. 
Employment  Service  Bulletin,  Jan.  31, 1919,  p.  8.] 
national  Alliance  of  Employers  and  Employed. 

On  December  7,  1916,  40  representatives  of  industry  and  trade- 
unionism  met  in  London  and  formed  the  national  alliance  of  em- 
ployers and  employed.  This  is  a  nonsectarian,  nonpolitical  organi- 
zation, without  industrial  bias,  having  two  avowed  objects.  These 
are  to  make  provisions  beforehand  to  secure  the  reinstatement  on  de- 
mobilization of  sailors  and  soldiers  and  of  the  vast  body  of  workers 
in  war  industries;  and,  as  far  as  possible,  to  prevent  industrial  dis- 
putes in  the  future.  It  believes  that  this  can  be  done  by  representa- 
tives of  employers  and  employed  on  a  basis  of  equal  responsibility 
and  equal  administrative  authority,  with  Government  cooperation 
but  without  Government  control.  Several  meetings  followed  the  in- 
augural meeting,  and  in  March,  1918,  12  important  trade-unions  and 
over  90  leading  employers  of  labor  officially  affiliated  with  this 
movement.  Among  the  many  things  the  alliance  advocates  are  im- 
proved working  conditions,  satisfactory  housing  accommodations, 
maximum  output  and  wages  commensurate  with  output,  adherence 
to  trade  agreements,  and  employment  during  time  of  slack  trade. — 
[Monthly  Labor  Review,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor,  January,  1919,  pp. 
67-70.] 


158  FOREIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

Food  Control. 

Orders  issued  by  the  British  food  controller,  which  became  effective 
November  18,  1918,  are  designed  to  secure  on  local  food  control  com- 
mittees a  more  direct  representation  of  labor,  women,  and  the  cooper- 
ative movement.  The  food  controller  has  already  established  the 
maximum  price  that  may  be  paid  to  a  producer  for  milk  sold  at 
wholesale  during  the  winter  months.  This  price,  however,  is  subject  to 
modification  by  local  food  committees.  The  food  controller  has  also 
constituted  a  body  called  the  butter  and  cheese  import  committee, 
who  are  engaged  in  distributing  butter  to  the  retailers;  and  has 
taken  control  of  the  whole  potato  crop  of  England  and  Wales.  The 
price  to  be  paid  for  this  crop  will  be  determined  by  a  commission 
appointed  jointly  by  the  food  controller  and  the  president  of  the 
board  of  agriculture. — [Monthly  Labor  Review,  U.  S.  Dept.  of 
Labor,  January,  1919,  pp.  115-118.] 

National  Endowment  of  Motherhood. 

In  September,  1918,  a  committee  formed  "  to  discuss  the  establish- 
ment of  a  national  scheme  of  family  endowment  "  issued  a  report  rec- 
ommending a  scheme  of  State  endowment  for  mothers  and  small 
children.  It  would  pay  $3.04  a  week  for  the  mother  and  $1.22  for 
the  first  child,  with  $0.85  for  the  second  and  each  subsequent  child. 
The  payment  to  the  mother  should  begin  eight  weeks  before  her 
first  confinement  and  continue  as  long  as  she  has  a  child  under  5 
years  of  age.  Payments  should  be  made  direct  to  the  mother  and  re- 
sponsibility for  administering  them  should  be  fixed  on  her.  It  is 
calculated  that  the  cost  of  the  scheme,  based  on  the  birth  rate  of 
1911,  would  require  an  annual  expenditure  of  approximately  $700,- 
776,000.  The  committee  believes  that  the  effect  on  the  birth  rate 
would  be  good. — [Monthly  Labor  Review,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor, 
January,  1919,  pp.  282-285.] 

Conservation  of  Boy  Power. 

In  the  past  decade  there  has  been  a  complete  change  in  the  attitude 
of  the  Government  towards  young  workers  helping  to  maintain 
England's  place  in  the  industrial  world.  About  130  juvenile-advisory 
committees  had  been  created  by  the  beginning  of  1917.  These  com- 
mittees, which  are  controlled  by  the  board  of  education,  had  be- 
come very  efficient  in  securing  particulars  as  to  the  educational  and 
physical  qualifications  of  school  boys  who  seek  work;  in  gathering- 
accurate  data  on  the  opportunities  for  boys  in  the  various  trades, 
conditions  of  work,  qualifications  required,  and  the  chances  for  ad- 
vancement. Thus,  the  boy  and  the  job  have  easily  been  brought 
together.  A  large  and  efficient  corps  of  welfare  officers  inspect  the 
factories,  report  on  conditions,  and  make  recommendations  to  the  em- 


UNITED  KINGDOM.  159 

ployers.  The  boys  are  encouraged  in  starting  athletic  clubs  and 
cadet  corps. — [Monthly  Labor  Eeview,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor,  Janu- 
ary, 1919,  pp.  129-135.] 

Industrial  Fatigue. 

A  research  board  has  been  appointed  by  the  department  of  scien- 
tific and  industrial  research  and  the  medical  research  committee 
jointly,  to  consider  and  investigate  the  relations  of  hours  of  labor  and 
all  other  conditions  of  employment,  including  methods  of  work,  to  the 
production  of  fatigue,  having  regard  both  to  industrial  efficiency  and 
to  the  preservation  of  health  among  the  workers.  The  duty  of  the 
board  will  be  to  initiate,  organize,  and  promote  all  research  investi- 
gations in  different  industries  with  a  view  to  finding  the  most  favor- 
able hours  of  labor,  spells  of  work,  rest  pauses,  and  other  conditions 
applicable  to  the  various  processes,  according  to  the  nature  of  the 
work  and  its  demands  on  the  worker.  For  these  investigations  the 
board  looks  forward  to  receiving  the  help  of  employers  and  workmen 
in  the  industries  which  are  studied,  and  in  certain  cases  representa- 
tives of  both  will  be  invited  to  serve  as  temporary  members  of  the 
board. — [British  Labor  Gazette,  January,  1919,  p.  36.] 

Soldier-Settlement  Flans. 

Under  an  act  designated  as  6  and  7  George  V.  c.  38,  soldier  settle- 
ments are  provided  for.  Provisions  of  the  act  will  be  administered 
by  the  board  of  agriculture  and  fisheries.  An  appropriation  of 
$10,000,000  has  been  asked  for.  The  board  is  authorized  to  purchase 
60,000  acres,  which  will  be  leased  to  the  soldiers.  They  will  be  given 
training  on  a  demonstration  farm  at  fair  wages. — ["Work  and  Homes 
for  our  Fighting  Men,"  Eeclamation  Service,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  the 
Interior,  1919,  pp.  20,  21.] 

Industrial  Training  for  Crippled  Soldiers. 

The  patients  at  the  pavilion  military  hospital  are  soldiers  who 
have  undergone  the  amputation  of  one  or  more  limbs.  They  come 
to  this  hospital  as  soon  as  they  are  able  to  leave  the  base  hospital, 
but  while  they  are  still  in  need  of  medical  treatment.  By  the  joint 
operation  of  workshops  and  hospitals  the  men  receive  the  curative  ef- 
fects of  industrial  work  at  the  same  time  they  are  being  given  medical 
treatment.  The  workshop  classes  afford  instruction  in  such  trade 
subjects  as  motor  mechanics,  metal  fitting  and  turning,  electrical  en- 
gineering, commercial  subjects,  motion-picture  machine  operating, 
cabinetmaking  turnery  and  joinery,  boot  and  shoe  making  and  re- 
pairing, tailoring,  mechanical  drafting,  carving  and  letter  cutting, 
stained-glass  work,  and  designing. — [U.  S.  Employment  Service 
Bulletin,  Feb.  7,  1919,  p.  3.] 


160  FOREIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

Demobilization  Provisions. 

The  new  British  demobilization  plan  provides  for  a  28-day  fur- 
lough for  each  man,  with  pay,  rations,  family  allowances,  unemploy- 
ment insurance  payable  for  20  weeks  within  one  year  from  date  of 
discharge,  and  free  transportation  home.  While  the  press  has  been 
insistent  in  its  demand  of  rapid  demobilization,  the  Government, 
with  a  discreet  foresight  of  serious  labor  conditions  which  would  be 
occasioned  by  the  wholesale  demobilization  of  the  army,  has  turned 
a  deaf  ear  to  the  insistent  demands.  Only  three  classes  of  men  are 
being  demobilized — coal  miners,  certain  shipyard  men,  and  those 
men  who  it  has  been  ascertained  have  definite  employment  awaiting 
them.  Next  in  line  will  be  men  for  whom  employers  have  executed 
sworn  statements  that  they  were  in  their  employment  on  August  4, 
1914,  and  offering  them  employment.  If  the  man  desires  to  accept  the 
employment  offered  he  will  hand  the  statement  to  his  commanding 
officer,  who  will  then  register  him  for  demobilization. — [U.  S.  Em- 
ployment Service  Bulletin,  Feb.  7, 1919,  p.  2.] 

Hemoval  of  Restrictions  on  Looms  and  Spindles. 

The  cotton  control  board  has  withdrawn  all  restrictions  on  the  run- 
ning of  looms  and  spindles,  and  all  manufacturers  are  at  liberty  to 
run  machinery  as  desired.  Orders  fixing  maximum  prices  of  raw 
cotton  remain  in  force. — [Cablegram  from  U.  S.  consul  general, 
London,  Feb.  4,  1919,  Commerce  Eeports,  Feb.  8,  1919,  p.  617.] 

New  Legislation  Suggested. 

At  the  opening  of  the  new  Parliament  and  the  House  of  Com- 
mons, Lloyd  George  presented  a  report  of  the  program  of  the  Peace 
Conference  and  discussion  of  means  to  meet  satisfactorily  the  pres- 
ent industrial  unrest.  King  George,  in  his  speech  from  the  throne, 
appealed  to  Parliament  to  expedite  legislation  designed  to  improve 
conditions  among  the  working  classes,  stating  that  if  industrial  unrest 
continues  the  consequences  will  be  grave  to  trade  and  industry,  and 
that  prompt  laws  should  be  enacted  to  take  care  of  this. — [Tribune, 
New  York,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  12,  1919.] 

British  Sea-Training  School. 

At  a  conference  of  the  board  of  trade  and  the  ministry  of  shipping- 
last  autumn  it  was  decided  to  institute  a  .new  system  of  training 
youths  for  sea  service  to  meet  the  present  existing  shortage  of  men  in 
the  mercantile  marine.  The  school  was  inaugurated  on  September 
23,  1918,  at  Gravesend;  and  training  in  knotting,  splicing,  boat  han- 
dling, rowing,  swimming,  heaving,  and  loading,  knowledge  of  the 
compass,  steering,  signaling,  cleaning  brass  and  bright  work,  scrub- 
bing, preparing  and  serving  the  mess,  coal  trimming,  and  other  prac- 
tical duties  on  board  ship  was  at  once  commenced.  As  the  result  of 
its  first  three  months'  work  the  school  shipped  126  youths  on  a  variety 


UNITED  KINGDOM.  IBl 

of  vessels,  ranging  from  the  finest  mail  steamers  to  colliers.  There 
were  180  lads  at  the  school  at  the  beginning  of  the  year. — [British 
Board  of  Trade  Journal,  Jan.  9,  1919 ;  Commerce  Reports,  U.  S. 
Dept.  of  Commerce,  Feb.  14,  1919,  p.  722.] 

Relaxation  of  Food  Regulations. 

It  has  been  intimated  officially  in  Great  Britain  that  after  the 
present  ration  coupon  books  have  been  used  others  will  not  be  issued, 
but  the  control  of  price  and  quantity  through  the  wholesale  and  re- 
tail trades  will  continue  to  be  exercised  by  the  minister  of  food. — 
[Report  of  U.  S.  consul  general,  London,  Jan.  1,  1919,  Commerce 
Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Feb.  14, 1919,  p.  761.] 
Readjustment  Program- 
It  is  plain  from  the  King's  speech  opening  Parliament  and  from 
Lloyd  George's  address  in  the  House  of  Commons  that  the  British 
Government  does  not  intend  to  let  the  country  drift  into  chaos  during 
the  period  of  demobilization  into  peace  conditions.  The  disturbed 
conditions  of  labor,  the  numerous  social  problems  created  from  the 
discharge  of  soldiers  and  sailors  from  the  service,  and  the  difficulties 
involved  in  providing  for  war  workers  in  various  fields  are  to  be 
anticipated,  and  their  cause  is  not  to  be  put  off  until  distress  or  dis- 
order compels  action.  A  ministry  to  conserve  the  public  health,  a 
ministry  of  ways  and  communications  to  improve  the  transportation 
facilities,  measures  to  insure  better  housing,  and  for  encouraging 
agriculture  are  details  of  the  program. — [Sun,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Feb. 
13,  1919.] 

England's  ministry  of  reconstruction,  in  working  out  a  general 
scheme,  is  making  not  only  an  accurate,  scientific,  and  an  exact 
grasp  of  the  problem  in  its  practical  aspects,  but  is  also  creating  an 
ideal  of  reconstruction.  This  spirit  is  national  and  governmental. 
It  is  establishing  a  new  system,  a  new  ideal,  a  new  plan  for  industry, 
for  labor,  and  in  some  lines  at  least  for  Government.  The  problem  in 
England  begins  with  shipping,  and  then  raw  materials.  The  Gov- 
ernment has  decided  not  to  ration  raw  materials  to  individual  indus- 
tries ;  but  to  industries  in  a  group  which,  in  turn,  through  representa- 
tive councils  made  up  from  both  employers  and  trade-unionists,  will 
apportion  among  themselves.  Roads  will  be  rebuilt,  neglected  rail- 
roads improved,  and  the  canal  system  extended  to  take  care  of  the 
transportation  problem.  "  Increase  the  national  output,"  is  the  chief 
ideal  of  the  new  order,  with  the  idea  that  debts  can  not  be  paid  or  the 
condition  of  workers  improved  unless  the  new  efficiency  of  production 
is  held  as  the  first  consideration.  What  is  known  as  the  Whitley 
committee  on  industrial  reconstruction  is  giving  great  aid  in  this 
work,  by  the  establishment  in  the  highly  organized  industries  of  joint 
115488—19 11 


162  FOREIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

councils  of  employers  and  trade-unionists.  The  whole  industrial 
fabric  is  being  closely  investigated ;  and  hours  of  labor,  wages,  regula- 
tion of  earnings,  health,  sanitation,  safety,  accidents,  insurance,  night- 
work,  overtime,  holidays,  dangerous  trades,  industrial  control,  and 
child  labor  are  under  the  scrutiny  of  the  Government.  In  the  ideals 
of  reconstruction  comes  a  new  rural  life,  the  use  of  land  for  public 
rather  than  private  interests,  the  reclamation  of  waste  land  and  par- 
celing it  to  soldiers  and  sailors.  Health,  housing,  and  sanitation  are 
receiving  especial  attention. — [C.  H.  Claudy,  in  Scientific  American, 
New  York,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  15, 1919.] 

Aerial  Transportation. 

Official  control  will  be  exercised  over  commercial  flying.  The 
aerial  navigation  acts  of  1911  and  1913  will  continue  in  force.  They 
provide  for  the  notification  of  all  aircraft  crossing  the  coast  line 
and  all  aircraft  from  abroad  landing  in  the  United  Kingdom ;  specify 
a  large  number  of  areas  over  which  flying  is  prohibited ;  and  illegalize 
crossing  the  coasts  at  all  save  a  few  points.  The  new  aerial  bill  will 
compel  the  registration  of  all  pilots  and  passengers  on  every  journey 
made  outside  the  limits  of  an  aerodrome,  but  the  air  ministry  will 
delegate  many  important  duties  to  aeronautical  bodies  and  manu- 
facturers. It  is  considered  that  the  safety  of  the  public  will  be 
insured  by  the  responsibility  of  the  aviation  companies,  the  check 
secured  by  insurance,  and  the  heavy  loss  of  money  and  reputation 
entailed  by  accidents.  By  April  1,  it  is  anticipated  that  a  number 
of  concerns  will  be  in  operation,  enabling  the  general  public  to  en- 
joy flights  at  quite  moderate  fares. — [Daily  Telegraph,  London,  Feb. 
25,  1919.] 

Reconstruction  In  Ireland. 

The  chief  secretary  for  Ireland,  in  receiving  a  deputation  from 
Irish  municipalities,  dealt  with  reconstruction.  He  said  that  the 
Government  had  given  an  interim  grant  of  $1,250,000  to  provide  for 
reconstruction  work  for  demobilized  soldiers  and  war-workers,  but 
that  the  scheme  was  merely  provisional.  He  assured  the  deputa- 
tion that  any  national  scheme  of  reconstruction  would  be  applied 
to  Ireland.— [Evening  Journal,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  26,  1919.] 

Railway  Control. 

On  February  26,  1919,  a  bill  was  introduced  in  the  House  of 
Commons  to  establish  a  ministry  of  ways  and  communications.  The 
new  ministry  would  take  over  control  of  railways,  tramways,  canals^ 
waterways,  roads,  and  power.  It  would  maintain  the  war-time  con- 
trol over  railways  and  might  make  such  changes  as  it  thought  neces- 
sary with  the  sanction  of  the  House. — [Post,  Washington,  D.  C.,Feb. 
27,  1919.] 


UNITED   KINGDOM.  163 

Ministry  of  Health. 

The  King,  in  his  speech  at  the  opening  of  Parliament,  and  mem- 
bers of  the  Government  have  promised  the  speedy  introduction  of 
a  bill  to  create  a  ministry  of  health.  At  present  there  are  in  Great 
Britain  18  Govermnent  departments  and  3,300  local  bodies  engaged 
in  the  improvement  of  the  public  health.  The  main  purpose  of 
the  bill  is  to  coordinate  all  these  activities  under  one  head.  The 
scope  of  the  new  department  includes  all  measures  for  the  prevention 
and  cure  of  disease,  the  treatment  of  physical  and  mental  defects,  the 
collection  and  preparation  of  information  and  statistics,  and  the 
training  of  persons  engaged  in  health  services.  Its  responsibilities 
will  range  from  administration  of  health  insurance  to  medical  in- 
spection of  schools,  clinical  treatment  of  children  and  young  persons,, 
also  the  care  of  the  health  of  disabled  soldiers  after  they  have  left 
the  service,  and  administration  of  the  lunacy  and  mental  deficiency 
acts.— [The  Survey,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Mar.  1,  1919,  p.  807.] 

Industrial  Training. 

The  Government  has  decided  to  set  up  *a  special  department  of  the 
ministry  to  deal  entirely  with  questions  of  industrial  training.  The 
minister  of  labor  has  appointed  the  former  director  of  the  munitions 
training  section  of  the  labor  supply  department  of  the  ministry  of 
munitions,  controller  of  the  new  department.  This  department  will 
not  only  administer  various  schemes  for  the  vocational  training  of 
discharged  soldiers  and  sailors,  of  civil-war  workers  of  either  sex, 
and  of  women  who  are  being  discharged  from  the  various  auxiliary 
corps,  but  will,  in  due  course,  take  over  from  the  ministry  of  pensions 
the  training  of  disabled  men,  with  the  exception  of  those  who  require 
medical  supervision  or  training  of  a  curative  nature.  Further,  the 
new  department  will  lay  down  the  general  lines  upon  which  the 
training  of  serving  soldiers  and  of  men  in  hospitals  will  be  carried 
on.  Representatives  of  the  trade-unions  and  employers  will  be  con- 
sulted in  regard  to  the  proposed  systems  of  training,  so  as  to  receive 
their  advice  and  cooperation  in  the  work  of  the  department.  Ar- 
rangements are  also  being  made  to  insure  the  interest  of  local  authori- 
ties in  all  training  work. — [British  Board  of  Trade  Journal,  Feb.  13, 
1919,  p.  227.] 
Preference  to  Skilled  Men. 

The  minister  of  labor  announces  that  priority  of  employment 
should  be  given  to  fully  skilled  men  over  "  dilutees,"  i.  e.,  workers  who 
have  during  the  war  been  introduced  to  perform  a  class  of  work  upon 
which,  before  the  war,  their  introduction  would  have  been  contrary 
to  the  rule,  practice,  or  custom  obtaining  in  the  trade  or  establish- 
ment concerned;  that  if  a  skilled  man  and  dilutee  are  employed  in 


164  FOKEIGI^  KEADJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION". 

the  same  department  on  the  same  class  of  work  and  one  must  be  dis- 
charged, the  dilutee  should  go;  and  that  if  a  skilled  man  is  unem- 
ployed (whether  as  a  result  of  discharge  from  a  factory  or  as  a  result 
of  demobilization)  and  presents  himself  for  employment  at  a  factory 
where  dilutees  are  employed  in  the  trade  in  which  the  applicant  is 
skilled,  he  is  entitled  to  claim  engagement  and  should  not  be  refused 
employment  at  his  trade  on  the  ground  that  there  are  no  vacancies 
and  that  his  engagement  would  involve  the  discharge  of  a  dilutee. — 
[British  Board  of  Trade  Journal,  Feb.  13,  1919,  p.  227.] 
Housing  for  London. 

The  minister  of  reconstruction  has  organized  a  house-building 
scheme  for  London,  and  it  is  anticipated  that  building  work  will  be 
commenced  almost  immediately  and  be  developed  as  fast  as  the  local 
schemes  are  approved.  The  Government  scheme  will  be  adminis- 
tered by  a  chief  commissioner  in  London  and  eight  district  commis- 
sioners of  housing,  all  of  whom  are  to  be  men  with  wide  knowledge 
and  experience  of  housing.  A  manualwill  shortly  be  issued  which 
will  embody  plans  of  several  types  of  houses  of  the  latest  designs. 
Practically  all  the  essential  fittings  are  being  standardized,  including 
doors,  windows,  kitchen  ranges,  baths,  bolts,  locks,  etc.,  and  arrange- 
ments are  being  made  with  the  ministry  of  munitions  to  place  orders 
for  these  standardized  fittings,  and  where  practicable  existing  muni- 
tion factories  and  works  will  be  utilized  for  the  production  of  fittings 
with  a  view  to  employing  as  many  munition  workers  as  possible.  A 
village  of  model  houses  will  be  erected  in  London.  Each  house  will 
be  a  complete  model  for  the  guidance  of  local  authorities  through- 
out the  country,  as  regards  both  architectural  style  and  internal 
arrangements. — [Commerce  Keports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Mar. 
7,  1919,  p.  1071.] 
Disposal  of  Surplus  Government  Property. 

A  surplus  Government-property  disposal  board,  under  which  will 
be  17  sections  to  deal  with  the  different  classes  of  property,  has  been 
set  up  by  the  minister  of  munitions.  At  the  head  of  each  section  will 
be  a  "  controller,"  who,  in  carrying  out  the  duties  intrusted  to  him, 
will  have  the  assistance  of  an  honorary  advisory  committee  of  men 
whose  special  knowledge  and  experience  will  insure  that  the  various 
classes  of  property  are  disposed  of  to  the  best  advantage.  In  ac- 
cordance with  arrangements  made  with  the  various  Government  de- 
partments concerned,  no  property,  surplus  to  the  requirements  of 
these  departments,  will  in  future  be  disposed  of  except  through  or 
by  arrangement  with  the  disposal  board.  This  equally  applies  to 
surplus  stores  in  the  various  theaters  of  war.  A  special  section  is 
being  established  to  deal  with  sales  to  neutral  countries. — [Com- 
merce Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Mar.  10, 1919,  p.  1106.] 


UNITED  KINGDOM.  165 

Investigation  of  Motor- Car  Markets. 

The  department  of  overseas  trade  and  the  Association  of  British 
Motor  and  Allied  Manufacturers  have  completed  arrangements  for 
the  dispatch  of  an  investigator  to  Australia,  New  Zealand,  India, 
and  the  Far  East  to  ascertain  the  conditions  and  prospects  in  those 
territories  for  the  sale  of  British  motor  vehicles,  their  parts  and 
accessories.  The  cost  of  the  investigation  is  being  defrayed  in  equal 
shares  by  the  association  and  by  the  Government.  Among  the  sub- 
jects to  be  covered  in  the  investigation  will  be  technical  specifications 
of  the  cars  most  in  demand,  facilities  for  obtaining  fuel,  road  sys- 
tems, customs  duties,  legislative  restrictions,  importers,  trade  organ- 
izations, methods  of  competitors,  and  transport  facilities. — [British 
Board  of  Trade  Journal,  Mar.  13,  1919.] 

Leather  Industry. 

The  British  fancy  leather-goods  business  has  been  termed  as  "  one 
of  the  trade  romances  of  the  war,  prior  to  which  Germany  had  a 
monopoly  of  the  industry."  It  is  claimed  that  to-day  the  trade  has 
passed  to  Great  Britain,  the  credit  for  which  is  mainly  due  to  the 
national  leather-goods  manufacturers'  association.  It  started  by  re- 
vising the  technical  education  of  the  workers ;  classes  including  special 
training  for  wounded  soldiers  were  formed  and  the  Cordwainers' 
Company  placed  colleges  and  teachers  at  the  service  of  the  association. 
Valuable  information  was  thus  spread,  with  the  result  that  the 
British  worker  is  now  said  to  be  second  to  none  in  this  trade,  while 
the  quality  of  British  leather  goods  is  exceedingly  high.  The  pros- 
pects for  the  industry  are  considered  very  bright,  as  the  large  British 
colonial  market  formerly  controlled  by  Germany  will  in  the  future 
be  transferred  to  Great  Britain.  While  confident  for  the  future, 
leather-goods  traders  maintain  that  restriction  of  competing  imports 
is  necessary,  if  they  are  to  keep  up  present  wages  and  produce  an  ar- 
ticle to  win  in  any  market  of  the  world. — FCommerce  Reports,  U.  S. 
Dept.  of  Commerce,  Mar.  15, 1919,  p.  1261.] 

Industrial  Research. 

Thirty  trades  are  cooperating  in  the  Government  department  of 
scientific  and  industrial  research,  which  aims  at  a  complete  revalua- 
tion of  science  in  the  scale  of  British  thought  and  practice.  The  de- 
partment hopes  to  become  a  clearing  house  for  all  information  bear- 
ing on  research  work.  Valuable  work  has  already  been  done  in 
many  directions,  notably  in  the  glass  industry,  where  success  has 
been  had  in  defining  the  ingredients  required  for  the  manufacture  of 
optical  glasses,  hitherto  made  exclusively  at  Jena,  and,  in  addition  to 
this,  three  completely  new  glasses,  previously  unobtainable,  have  been 
discovered.  Something  like  $100,000  has  been  spent  in  the  past  three 
years  on  work  in  this  department,  and  in  the  coming  year  another 


166  FOREIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

$150,000  will  be  spent  on  grants  to  individual  students  and  workers. 
In  the  pottery  trade  a  new  ware  has  been  invented,  also  a  new  cheap 
glaze,  which  will  enable  the  British  trade  to  hold  its  own  with  the 
hard  porcelains  produced  in  Germany  and  Austria. — [Commerce  Re- 
ports, U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Mar.  18,  1919,  p.  1322.] 
Government  Grant  for  Road  Work. 

Owing  to  high  prices,  lack  of  materials,  transport  difficulties,  and 
the  need  of  much  repair  and  reconstruction  work,  as  well  as  the  de- 
sirability of  stimulating  useful  work,  the  Government  has  decided 
on  making  a  grant  of  $50,000,000  to  promote  work  on  roads  and 
bridges  throughout  the  country.  The  road  board  has  represented 
to  the  Government  that  the  kind  of  work  most  urgently  required  at 
present  is  the  strengthening  and  resurfacing  with  improved  materials 
of  important  roads  and  bridges,  and  that  preference  should  be  given 
to  highways  on  which  there  is,  or  is  likely  to  be,  a  large  volume  oif 
heavy  motor  traffic. — [Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce, 
Mar.  19, 1919,  p.  1331.] 

British  Steel  Combine. 

Messrs.  Baldwin,  steel  manufacturers,  have  acquired  the  under- 
taking of  the  British  Steel  Corporation,  which  was  formed  last 
October,  with  a  capital  of  $5,000,000.  This  corporation  had  acquired 
the  Briton  Ferry  Works  and  a  site  of  305  acres,  situated  between  the 
Swansea  Docks  and  Neath  River,  on  which  blast  furnaces  and  coke 
ovens,  with  a  capacity  of  20,000  tons  of  pig  iron,  are  to  be  erected. 
When  this  amalgamation  is  completed  the  new  corporation  will  have 
the  largest  productive  capacity  in  Great  Britain  and  one  of  the  largest 
in  Europe.  Other  negotiations  are  in  progress  for  the  extension  of 
the  Baldwin  interests  to  the  manufacturing  side  of  the  steel  busi- 
ness. Another  recently  announced  amalgamation  of  steel  interests 
was  that  of  the  Furness  group  and  the  Seaton  Carew  Iron  &  Steel 
Co.  This  is  the  second  merger  negotiated  by  the  Furness  Cor- 
poration this  year,  the  firm  of  Cochrane  &  Co.  having  been  acquired 
a  short  time  ago. — [Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce, 
Mar.  19, 1919,  p.  1330.] 

Public  Electric  Power. 

The  British  ministry  of  reconstruction  proposes  the  establishment 
of  16  public  electric  stations  to  furnish  heat,  light,  and  power  for  all 
industry.  This  will  make  possible  unlimited,  uniform,  standardized 
power,  distributed  by  great  trunk  lines  to  every  industrial  center. 
It  is  estimated  that  under  this  plan  25,000,000  tons  of  coal  will  pro- 
duce as  much  as  the  80,000,000  now  used.  Also  that  relieving  the 
railroads,  canals,  and  coast  vessels  of  the  coal  traffic  would  be  equiva- 
lent to  adding  one-third  to  present  transportation  equipment.    The 


UNITED  KINGDOM.  167 

committee  calculates  that  "  all  these  savings  and  advantages  can 
hardly  be  put  at  less  than  $500,000,000  per  anjium." — ^[ Gazette, 
Niagara  Falls,  N.  Y.,  Mar.  19,  1919.] 

Reconstruction. 

The  British  Government  has  announced  that  it  has  set  aside 
$50,000,000  to  be  used  in  road  building  and  in  the  reconstruction  of 
bridges  allowed  to  fall  into  decay  during  the  war.  About  2,500  miles 
of  roads  will  be  constructed,  and  the  work  will  give  employment  to 
fully  100,000  men,  most  of  whom  will  be  discharged  soldiers. — [Ga- 
zette, Trenton,  N.  J.,  Mar.  24,  1919.] 
Organization  for  Foreign  Trade. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  British  Manufacturers'  Association  called  for 
the  purpose  of  considering  amalgamation  with  the  Federation  of 
British  Industries,  the  proposal  for  amalgamation  was  carried  unani- 
mously. The  new  organization  will  appoint  what  are  called  overseas 
trade  commissioners  to  protect,  guide,  and  advise  members,  numbering 
16,000  firms.  These  overseas  trade  commissioners  are  to  be  men  of 
high  commercial  qualifications,  conversant  with  the  customs  and  com- 
mercial needs  of  the  countries  to  which  they  are  appointed,  and  will 
be  settled  in  suitable  offices  in  the  chief  commercial  centers  of  the  world 
with  competent  staffs.  They  are  expected  to  report  on  the  work  of 
their  foreign  competitors  and  to  collect  such  information  as  British 
manufacturers  are  presumed  to  need. — [Commerce  Reports,  U.  S. 
Dept.  of  Commerce,  Mar.  25,  1919,  p.  1500.] 

Foreign  Commerce. 

The  British  bureau  of  foreign  commerce  and  the  association  of  civil 
engineers  are  combining  to  send  to  Brazil  a  special  agent  who  is  to 
study  the  market  in  that  country  for  English  construction  machinery. 
The  researches  of  this  mission  will  comprise : 

1.  Conditions  of  the  market,  importers,  methods  of  packing  and 
distributing  goods,  Brazilian  laws  governing  various  articles,  etc. 

2.  Inquiries  into  industries  which  may  prove  to  be  channel?  for  the 
sale  of  English  engineering  materials,  such  as  shipbuilding,  foreign 
carriers,  port  works,  dikes,  hydraulic  and  electric  construction  proj- 
ects, and  public  works  in  general;  coffee,  cocoa,  cotton,  wool,  whale 
oil,  coconut  oil;  mining  and  mineral  industries;  sugar,  cotton,  rice, 
and  jute  mills;  sawmills;  manufacturing  of  candles,  soap,  and  stear- 
ine ;  and  metal  foundries. 

3.  Investigation  of  markets  in  iron,  steel,  and  other  metals ;  in  con- 
struction materials  for  railroads,  etc. ;  in  agricultural  machinery,  au- 
tomobiles, and  automobile  trucks;  in  materials  for  slaughterhouses 
and  the  refrigeration  of  beef;  and  in  materials  for  the  construction 
of  boilers,  steam  and  gas  motors,  Diesel  motors,  etc. — [Commerce  Re- 
ports, U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Mar.  26, 1919,  p.  1517.] 


168  FOREIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

Industrial  Parliament. 

On  February  27, 1919,  the  peace  parliament  of  employers  and  work- 
ers convened  by  the  British  Government  met  in  London.  Eight  hun- 
dred delegates,  representing  trade-unions,  trade  boards,  joint  indus- 
trial councils,  and  reconstruction  committees,  attended  the  conference. 
The  great  majority  of  trade-unionists  present  clearly  desired  to  enter 
into  working  relations  with  the  employers  in  order  to  restore  industry 
to  a  normal  basis.  A  proportion  of  the  employers  wished  to  arrange 
better  working  conditions  for  their  men  and  were  ready  to  concede 
some  share  in  control  of  management  to  the  workers. 

Nothing  really  definite  was  accomplished  except  that  it  might  be 
said  that,  if  this  conference  is  equally  successful  on  its  second  meeting, 
which  will  take  place  within  a  few  weeks,  it  may  prove  to  be  the  first 
step  in  the  creation  of  a  permanent  industrial  parliament.  It  was 
brought  out  at  the  conference,  however,  that  the  workers  are  sick  of 
talk  about  "  capturing  the  markets  of  the  world,"  "  speeding-up  de- 
vices," and  "  higher  production."  They  have  worked  to  the  limits  of 
their  strength  for  four  years  and  are  utterly  weary.  No  motivation 
will  now  avail  to  draw  on  the  deeper  sources  of  their  productive 
power,  except  one  that  finds  its  dynamic  in  a  full  measure  of  collec- 
tive benefit.— [The  Survey,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Mar.  29,  1919,  p.  917.] 

Reconstruction  Plans  to  Stimulate  Agriculture. 

The  minister  of  reconstruction  announced  that  the  reconstruction 
plans  of  the  British  Government  are  being  based  on  an  estimate 
that  the  United  Kingdom,  if  its  soil  were  properly  cultivated,  could 
produce  enough  food  for  about  30,000,000  people.  He  stated  that 
Great  Britain  must  not  be  purely  an  agricultural  nor  purely  an  in- 
dustrial nation,  but  a  blend  of  both;  that  some  manufacturers 
must  go  out  of  business,  but  enough  will  remain  to  employ  those 
persons  not  engaged  in  agriculture  and  to  maintain  an  export  trade 
that  will  supply  the  United  Kingdom  with  the  remaining  foodstuffs 
needed.  The  minister  declared  that  the  policy  of  the  Government 
is  to  stimulate  agriculture  to  the  utmost,  while  at  the  same  time 
maintaining  the  nation's  industrial  importance. — [American  Archi- 
tect, New  York,  N.  Y.,  Apr.  2,  1919.] 

Putting  Household  Employment  on  an  Industrial  Basis. 

English  housewives  are  experiencing  great  difficulty  in  obtaining 
servants.  Discharged  women  war  workers  do  not  show  any  desire  to 
return  to  domestic  service.  To  meet  this  situation  the  women's  legion 
is  preparing  a  minimum  wage  scale  for  household  workers,  which 
ranges  from  $90  a  year  for  a  scullery  maid  to  $250  for  a  housekeeper. 
The  workers  are  to  live  with  the  employers ;  but  they  are  to  have 
definite  periods  of  leave  and  leisure,  which  will  include  two  hours  off 
every  day  besides  time  for  meals,  half  a  day  and  part  of  Sunday  off 


UNITED  KIKGDOM.  169 

every  week,  and  a  yearly  holiday  of  two  weeks  with  pay.  The 
Women's  Industrial  Council  of  England  propose  a  "  Household  Or- 
derly Corps."  This  corps  would  enroll  domestic  workers  and  supply 
them  to  employers  on  the  basis  of  a  minimum  wage  of  about  $7.50  for 
a  week  of  48  hours,  with  overtime  at  a  higher  rate  and  one  day  off 
a  week,  the  workers  to  provide  their  own  lodging,  laundry,  and  food. 
At  Bristol  an  appeal  tribunal,  consisting  of  equal  numbers  of  mis- 
tresses and  maids,  has  been  set  up  by  the  Bristol  employment  exchange 
to  adjust  differences  arising  between  employers  and  servants.  A 
group  of  labor  party  women  has  recently  drawn  up  a  scheme  for 
domestic  employment  which  involves  living  out,  a  minimum  wage  of 
$8.75  a  week,  a  52-hour  week,  overtime  counted  as  time  and  a  quarter 
on  week  days  and  as  double  time  on  Sundays  and  holidays.  Strong 
organizations  for  domestic  workers  are  urged  as  the  only  basis  for  a 
satisfactory  arrangement  of  the  problem. — [The  Survey,  New  York, 
N.  Y.,  Apr.  5, 1919,  p.  56.] 

Additional  Transportation  Facilities  for  Scotland. 

In  view  of  the  fact  that  a  considerable  quantity  of  railway  plant, 
barges,  and  road  rollers  at  present  in  France  will  shortly  be  set  free, 
the  Scottish  divisional  council  for  demobilization  and  resettlement  are 
planning  to  ask  the  Government  that  a  certain  amount  of  it  be  sent 
to  the  north  of  Scotland  for  the  purpose  of  extending  transportation 
facilities  there.  It  is  pointed  out  that  in  addition  to  the  importance 
of  obtaining  this  plant  for  the  purpose  of  fostering  future  industrial 
development,  the  construction  of  railways  and  roads  would  give 
immediate  employment  to  large  numbers  of  men.  It  is  estimated 
that  no  less  than  400  miles  of  railway  will  be  required,  representing 
a  cost  roughly  of  $10,000,000.— [Commerce  Eeports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of 
Commerce,  Apr.  8, 1919,  p.  182.] 

Cinema  Exhibits  to  Promote  Foreign  Trade. 

The  Chamber  of  Commerce  of  Liverpool  has  announced  that  its 
project  for  advertising  Liverpool  commercial  interests  by  sending  a 
cinema  exhibit  on  a  world  tour  is  meeting  with  success,  and  that 
several  contracts  have  already  resulted  from  this  effort. — [Commerce 
Eeports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Apr.  16,  1919,  p.  363.] 
New  Method  of  Paying  Wages. 

A  large  soap  manufacturing  concern  is  contemplating  the  intro- 
duction of  a  new  method  of  paying  wages,  which  is  outlined  as  fol- 
lows: Each  man  is  to  have  a  little  private  banking  account  in  a 
bank  of  his  own  selection  near  his  own  house.  The  firm's  bank  is  to 
be  instructed  to  credit  each  man  from  the  pay  sheet  with  the  amount 
of  money  he  is  entitled  to  receive  for  his  wages.  Under  this  system 
a  man  will  draw  out  of  his  bank  what  he  wants  for  his  household 
expenses,  and  what  he  does  not  need  will  rest  in  the  bank.     The 


170  FOREIGN  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

amount  left  as  deposit  with  the  bank  will  be  supplemented  by  an  ad- 
dition from  the  firm,  and  the  money  will  earn  5  per  cent  interest.  It 
is  thought  that  if  this  arrangement  can  be  put  into  operation,  the 
tendency  of  the  worker  will  be  to  leave  a  little  more  money  each  week 
in  the  bank,  and  also  that  instead  of  the  money  lying  home  it  will 
be  earning  interest. — [Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce, 
Apr.  16, 1919,  p.  356.] 

Formation  of  Bank  to  Handle  Postwar  Undertakings. 

A  new  bank  for  foreign  trade,  called  the  British  Overseas  Bank, 
has  been  formed  by  five  British  banks — the  Anglo-South  American 
Bank;  Glyn,  Mills,  Currie  &  Co.;  the  Northern  Banking  Co.  (of 
Ireland);  Union  Bank  of  Scotland;  and  Williams  Deacon's  Bank. 
The  capital  will  consist  of  1,000,000  pounds  in  ordinary  shares,  to 
be  subscribed  by  the  banks  interested  in  the  venture;  and  1,000,000 
pounds  in  preference  shares,  which  carry  participatory  rights,  will 
be  offered  to  the  general  public.  The  primary  purpose  of  this  merger 
is  to  provide  necessary  size  and  strength  for  the  financing  of  post- 
war undertakings. — [Commerce  Keports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce, 
Apr.  19,  1919,  p.  436.] 

Proposed  Industrial  Parliament. 

At  a  recent  conference  of  British  employers'  associations  and 
trade-unions,  approval  was  given  to  a  plan  for  the  formation  of  a 
national  industrial  council  on  the  following  lines : 

1.  To  establish  an  industrial  parliament  to  discuss  all  questions  of 
difficulty  and  dispute  which  may  arise  in  the  future  between  em- 
ployers and  employed. 

2.  Mutually  to  agree  as  to  a  minimum  rate  of  wage  in  all  in- 
dustries. 

3.  To  fix  the  standard  working  hours'  and  the  conditions  of  service. 

4.  To  act  as  the  expert  advisory  body  to  the  Government  in  all 
proposals  for  legislation  affecting  industry. 

It  is  anticipated  that  immediate  Government  action  will  be  taken 
to  give  statutory  power  to  this  proposed  new  advisory  body.— [Com- 
merce Eeports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  May  5,  1919,  p.  691.] 

URUGUAY. 

Commercial  Congress. 

The  Uruguayan  Government  has  issued  a  decree  providing  for  the 
first  American  Congress  of  Commercial  Education  and  Economic 
Commercial  Expansion,  to  be  held  at  Montevideo.  The  object  will 
be  to  study  the  matiner  in  which  commercial  education  is  to  be 
guided  and  developed  in  each  country,  and  to  study  the  means  of 
accomplishing  in  an  adequate  manner  the  economic-commercial  ex- 
pansion of  and  between  the  nations  of  the  American  Continent. — 
[Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Aug.  31, 1918,  p.  845.] 


URUGUAY.  171 

Price  Fixing. 

According  to  a  report  from  the  United  States  consul  at  Montevideo, 
the  Uruguayan  subsistence  board  is  continuing  its  activities  in  con- 
nection with  price  regulation  and  conservation  of  supplies.  They 
have  issued  a  decree  fixing  the  wholesale  price  of  meat  and  other 
foodstuffs.  They  have  also  established  maximum  prices  for  gasoline 
and  kerosene. — [Monthly  Labor  Review,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor,  Jan- 
uary, 1919,  pp.  113-114.] 


INDEX. 

Page. 

Adults,  nonvocational  education  of,  recommended  by  British  committee 124 

Aerial  service : 

Australia 10, 14 

European  countries,  postal 34 

France 36,  39,  53 

New  Zealand 107 

United  Kingdom 149, 155, 162 

Agriculture  and  forestry : 

Argentina 8 

Austria-Hungary 16 

Brazil 19 

Canada 27 

France 34,  40-43,  47,  48,  51 

Germany 67,  68,  73-75,  77,  78 

Hungary 80,  81 

Italy 34,  89, 92,  96, 97, 99 

Mexico 103, 104 

Montenegro 104 

New  Zealand 108 

Portugal 112 

Russia 114, 115 

United  Kingdom 34,  123,  124,  131,  140,  141,  145,  162,  168 

(See  also  Land  settlement.) 

Allied  Powers  requested  by  Belgium  to  extend  credit  for  manufacturing 17 

Alphabet,  new,  in  China 31 

Alsace-Lorraine : 

Digest  of  reconstruction  activities  in 7, 8 

Fund  for  restoration  of  northern  France  raised  as  testimony  of  grati- 
tude        53 

Germany,  effect  on,  of  loss  of 71 

Mines,  interests  in,  and  port  of  Strasburg 52 

Railways  of,  linking  up  to  those  of  France 37 

Apprenticeship,  rules  for,  in  Great  Britain ;  State  aid  where  interrupted 
by  war 139 

American  Federation  of  Labor,  cooperation  with  labor  of  Mexico 109 

Arbitration  and  conciliation  of  labor  disputes : 

Canada ^ 25 

Hungary 1 80 

United  Kingdom 135 

(See  also  Industrial  relations.) 

Argentina : 

Digest  of  reconstruction  activities  in 8 

Royal  Bank  of  Canada  to  have  branch  in 25 

Australia : 

Digest  of  reconstruction  activities  in 8-14 

Market  for  British  motor  vehicles  in 165 

Outlet  for  Italian  emigration  in 100 

Austria-Hungary : 

Aerial  postal  service  in 34 

Digest  of  reconstruction  activities  in 14-16 

Banking.     (See  Finance,  banking,  and  credit) 

Belgium : 

Digest  of  reconstruction  activities  in 16-18 

Reconstruction  work  in,  Canada  to  attempt  to  secure  share  in 21 

Reforestation  of,  to  have  American  aid 86 

Berne,  international  conference  at 85 

173 


174  INDJilX. 

Bohemia :  Page. 

To  have  Atlantic  port  provided  by  France 35 

(See  also  Czecho-Slovakia. ) 

Bolshevism,  discussion  of,  at  international  conference  at  Berne 85 

Bonuses  or  gratuities  for  discharged  soldiers  and  sailors : 

Canada ^ 29 

France ~ I_~~        44 

Germany g5 

Netherlands Z-ll-Z^lI^I      106 

(See  also  State  assistance.) 

Bounties  for  agricultural  production  in  Portugal 112 

Brazil : 

British  trade  with 167 

Digest  of  reconstruction  activities  in I_I_        19 

Royal  Bank  of  Canada  to  have  branch  in 25 

British  Columbia : 

Department  of  industry 30 

Land  settlement  of  soldiers 23, 24 

British  Empire,  economic  cooperation  of  constituent  parts  of 125 

Buenos  Ayres,  location  of  branch  of  Royal  Bank  of  Canada  in 25 

Building,  resumption  of: 

Austria-Hungary 16 

Canada 29, 30 

France 40,  42,  49,  51,  54 

Germany _  58,67 

Sweden 120 

United  Kingdom 128, 138-140 

(See  also  Housing;  Industry,  rehabilitation  of.) 

Bulgaria,  digest  of  reconstruction  activities  in 19,20 

Canada : 

Digest  of  reconstruction  activities  in 20-30 

Lumber,  sale  of,  to  Great  Britain ^   150 

Steamship  service  with  Great  Britain,  resumption  of 150 

Steamship  service  with  Vladivostok,  resumption  of 117 

Cargo  insurance  in  Great  Britain 138 

Cereals,  prices  of,  guaranteed  for  1919  in  England  and  Wales 142 

Child  labor: 

International 39,  83,  84,  86 

United  Kingdom 146, 147, 158, 159, 162 

(See  also  Education,  compulsory.) 
Children  of  deceased  and  disabled  soldiers,  scholarships  for  in  Australia-        10 

Chile,  digest  of  reconstruction  activities  in 30,  31 

China,  digest  of  reconstruction  activities  in 31 

Clothing  for  demobilized  British  soliders,  and  use  of  uniforms  not  re- 
tained       152 

Clothing,  manufacture  of,  by  Government  of  Australia 13 

Coal,  production  and  conservation  of : 

Austria-Hungary ^ 14 

France -        43 

Germany 73,75 

Greece 79 

Hungary 82 

Italy - - 90,99 

Netherlands 105 

Switzerland , 121 

United  Kingdom 125-127, 166, 167 

(See  also  Mining.) 
Coffee,  production  of  and  trade  in: 

Brazil 19 

Italy 88 

Coin,  gold  and  silver,  importation  of  into  Great  Britain  authorized 151 

Collective  agreements  and  bargaining  between  employers  and  employees : 

Germany 67-69,  76 

•       Italy- - 101 

United  Kingdom 126, 127 

(See  also  Industrial  councils;  Industrial  relations.) 


INDEX.  175 

Page. 

Collective  buying  of  materials  in  France 35 

Commerce,  foreign.     (See  Trade  foreign.) 

Commercial  Education  and  Economic  Commercial  Expansion,  American 
Congress  of,  called  at  Montevideo  by  Uruguayan  Government 170 

Commissions,  committees,  conferences,  and  ministries  on  reconstruction 
or  transition: 

Austria-Hungary 14-16 

Belgium 16-18 

Bulgaria 19,20 

Canada 26 

France 36,  42,  43,  45-47,  52 

German- Austria 54,  55 

Germany 56,  57,  59,  62,  63 

Greece 79,  80 

Hungary 80-82 

Italy 86-88,  91,  92,  94-96 

Japan 101 

Netherlands 105 

Poland 110, 11:1 

United  Kingdom 122-125 

Constitution  of  Switzerland,  proposed  revision  of 121 

Contracts  for  war  supplies,  adjustment  of : 

Italy 94,95 

United  Kingdom 129 

Cooperative  purchasing,  distribution,  and  storage,  societies  for,  in  Italy 92,  93 

Copenhagen,  meetings  held  at,  for  cooperation  of  Scandinavian  countries 
in  economic  and  commercial  affairs 116 

Cordite,  manufacture  of,  by  Government,  in  Australia 13 

Cost  of  living : 

Canada 21,22 

France 39 

New  Zealand 108 

United  Kingdom 143 

Cotton  industry.     (See  Textile  industry.) 

Councils,  joint  industrial,  of  employers  and  employees,  in  Great  Brit- 
ain     126, 127, 146, 147, 161, 162, 168 

Credit.     (See  Finance,  banking,  and  credit;  Loans.) 

Currency,  decimal,  adoption  of,  by  United  Kingdom 123. 131 

Czecho-Slovakia,  digest  of  reconstruction  activities  in 32,  33 

Damage  caused  by  war,  amount  of,  in  France 50 

Damage  caused  by  war,  compensation  to  individuals  for : 

France . 42,49 

Italy 95,96 

Debts  of  soldiers,  payment  of,  in  Germany 67 

Demobilization : 

Canada 22,  26-29 

Germany 61,  63-67,  73-76 

Hungary _ _ _ 80 

Netherlands 105,106 

United  Kingdom 128, 134, 137-139, 146, 150-152, 155-157, 160, 161 

Demobilization  of  labor.     (See  Munition  workers.) 

Denmark : 

Aerial  postal  service  in ; .        34 

Digest  of  reconstruction  activities  in 33 

Economic  cooperation  with  other  Scandinavian  countries 116 

Devastated  regions,  restoration  of: 

Austria-Hungary .. 16 

France 37,  38,  40-44,  46,  48-54 

Italy _ ,       91 

Disabled  employees  in  Germany  not  to  be  dismissed  unless  other  employ- 
ment is  provided : 70 

Disabled   men  in  Great  Britain,   insurance  of,  under  workmen's   com- 
pensation act . . : 136 

Disabled  soldiers  and  sailors.     (See  Families;  Medical,  etc.,  treatment; 
State  assistance.) 


176  INDEX. 

Disabled  soldiers,  voluntary  funds  for  relief  of :  Page. 

Germany 59 

Italy 92 

South  Africa 117 

Disputes  between  employers  and  employees.     (See  Industrial  relations.) 

Dock  trades,  employment  in,  in  Great  Britain 155 

Domestic  service  in  Great  Britain 168, 169 

Dye  industry  in  Great  Britain 140, 150 

Economic  conditions,  needs,  and  resources,  investigation  of : 

Alsace-Lorraine 7 

Belgium 16 

Brazil 19 

Bulgaria 20 

Czecho-Slovakia 32 

France . 35-37,52 

Germany 61,  71,  73,  74,  79 

Italy 86,  87,  91,  94,  98 

Japan 101 

Spain 118,119 

United  Kingdom 122-128, 133, 134, 144, 145, 161, 162 

Economic   conditions.     (See  also   Finance,   banking  and   credit;    Food; 
Housing;  Industry;  Labor;  Power;  Tariffs;  Trade,  foreign.) 

Education  act,  British,  of  1918 147 

Education,  adult,  British  reconstruction  committee's  reports  on 124 

Education,  compulsory: 

France 38 

International 83 

United  Kingdom 147 

(See  also  Child  labor.) 

Education,  higher,  in  Japan 101, 102 

Education  in  China,  new  alphabet  to  facilitate 31 

Education  in  English  language  in  Japan 102 

Education.     (See  also  Vocational  education;  Vocational  training.) 
Electric  power : 

France 35,42 

Hungary 82 

India 83 

Italy 91 

United    Kingdom 148, 166, 167 

Electrification  of  railways  in  Switzerland 120,121 

Emigration,  regulation  of: 

International 86 

Italy 87, 88,  96, 99, 100 

Employer  and  employee.     (See  Industrial  relations.) 
Employers,  programs  of: 

Germany 61,  62 

Italy 90 

Employment  bureaus: 

Germany 75 

Hungary 82 

International 86 

Italy 96 

South  Africa 117 

United  Kingdom 133,  134,  143 

Employment  of  returned  soldiers: 

Australia 10,13 

Canada 20,  22, 26-30 

France 38 

Germany 57, 58,  61,  63, 67, 68,  70,  73,  74 

Hungary- 82 

Italy 90,97 

South  Africa 117 

United  Kingdom 128,  137-139,  154-157,  167 

(See  also  Land  settlement;  Settlements,  industrial;  Unemployment; 
Vocational  training.) 


INDEX.  177 

England:  P«««. 

Agricultural  conditions  in,  investigation  of,  by  United  States. 34 

Price  of  cereals  for  1919  guaranteed  in 142 

War  memorials  in 157 

(See  also  United  Kingdom.) 

European  countries,  aerial  postal  service  in : 34 

Exports : 

Alsace-Lorraine . 8 

Canada 21 

China 31 

France 8,  44, 47, 48,  52 

Italy 94,98 

Japan : 101 

Mexico :—. 103 

Spain 119 

Sweden 120 

Switzerland 120,  121 

Turkey 121,122 

United  Kingdom 125, 129, 145, 146, 169 

(See  also  Trade,  foreign.) 

Factions,  conciliation  of,  in  China 31 

Factions,  conciliation  of,  in  Mexico : — 103 

Factories,  Government  operation  of,  in  Australia . 13,14 

Factories  producing  war  materials,  conversion  to  peace  production: 

France 37,  39,  41,  42, 45,  46 

Germany 70,71 

Italy 87, 90, 91, 93-95 

;    United  Kingdom 129, 130, 134, 137 

Families  of  soldiers  and  sailors,  assistance  for : 

Australia 8-10 

Germany 57 

Italy . 90 

South  Africa 117 

(See  also  State  assistance.) 
Farm  loans.     (See  Agriculture;  Land  settlement.) 

Fatigue,  industrial,  investigation  of,  in  Great  Britain 159 

Federal  Reserve  Board,  United  States,  announces  credit  to  Peru 110 

Fiduciary  societies  in  France,  to  determine  whether  extension  of  credit 

to  business  establishments  is  warranted 36 

Finance,  banking,  and  credit: 

Argentina 8 

Canada 25 

Czecho-Slovakia 32 

France 36,  41,  43,  47,  51,  52 

German-Austria 55 

Germany : 56,  57,  63,  64,  71,  72,  77 

Hungary 81 

Italy 91,  95,  97 

Mexico 103,104 

Peru 110 

Poland ^ 110,111 

Russia 114, 115 

Spain 118 

Turkey 122 

United  Kingdom 126,  131,  133,  134,  138,  140,  148,  151,  153,  170 

Finland,  National  Industrial  League  of,  to  hold  national  fair  in  1919  for 

encouragement  of  industry,  etc 34 

Finland  and  Sweden,  trade  agreement  between 34,35 

Flax,   new   method   of   handling  likely   to   greatly   increase   production 

in  Ireland 142 

Food  scarcity,  relief  of ;  food  regulations : 

Belgium 18 

France ^ 40-43.45 

International 84,85 

115488—19 12 


178  INDEX. 

Food  scarcity,  relief  of;  food  regulations — Continued.  Page. 

Russia 114 

United  Kingdom 156, 158, 161 

Foreign  trade.     (See  Trade,  foreign. 

Forestry,     (^ee  Agriculture;  Reforestation.) 

France: 

Agricultural  conditions  in 34 

Alsace-Lorraine,  government  and  rehabilitation 7 

Coal  and  steel  to  be  furnished  to  Switzerland  in  return  for  cattle 121 

Digest  of  reconstruction  activities  of 35-54 

Emigration  from  Italy  to 100 

Netherlands  special  commission  to  promote  trade  with 105 

Potash  output  of  Alsace  required  for  a  time 8 

Railway  plant,  road  rollers,  etc.,  to  be  returned  to  United  Kingdom.      169 

Reconstruction  work,  Canada  to  attempt  to  secure  share  in 21 

Reforestation  of,  to  have  American  aid 86 

Release  from  army  of  men  who  might  contribute  to  extension  of 

Allied  influence  in  Brazil 19 

Supreme  Council  dealing  with  supply  of  food  to  liberated  and  enemy 
territory,  representation  on 84,  85 

Freedom  of  speech  and  press,  removal  of  restrictions  on,  in  Germany 65 

German-Austria,  digest  of  reconstruction  activities  in 54,  55 

Germany : 

Commercial  interests  in  Russia 113, 115 

Digest   of  reconstruction   activities  in 55-79 

Indemnity  to  Belgium 17, 18 

Trade   agreement   with   Czecho-Slovakia 82 

Glass  industry  in  Great  Britain 165, 166 

Government,  change  of,  effect  on  contracts,  credits,  currency,  and  other 
obligations : 

Germany  63,  64,  72 

Hungary 82,83 

Government    departments,    improvement    of    machinery    of,    in    Great 

Britain    141, 149 

Government  of  Alsace-Lorraine  until  signing  of  Peace  Treaty 7 

Government  ownership  of  colleries  in  Austria-Hungary 14 

Government  ownership  of  railways: 

Australia 14 

Canada 22,  27 

Italy  98, 99 

Mexico 102 

Spain   118 

United  Kingdom 131,  135 

Great  Britain.     {See  United  Kingdom.) 

Greece,  digest  of  reconstruction  activities  in 79,  80 

Hague,  The,  Belgian  traders  in,  unite  to  purchase  supplies  for  Belgium__        16 

Harbor  improvements.     (See  Ports.) 

Harness  and  saddlery,  manufacture  of,  by  Government,  in  Australia 13 

Health,  ministry  of,  proposal  to  create  in  Great  Britain 163 

Hours  of  labor,  reduction,  regulation,  and  investigation  of : 

Australia 13, 14 

Canada   22 

Denmark 33 

iTrance 38,  39 

Germany 63,  71,  74-76 

Hungary 82 

International 83.  86 

Italy 99,  101 

Netherlands 107 

United  Kingdom 124. 129, 146, 159, 162, 168, 169 

Housing : 

Canada 26,  27,  29,  30 

France 42,  45,  51 

Germany-Austria 54 

Germany 56-58,  62-68,  70-73,  75 

Hungary 82 


INDEX.  179 

Housing — Continued.  '-  Page. 

Sweden 120 

United  Kingdom 124,  131,  138-140,  147,  148,  157,  161,  162,  164 

Hungary,  digest  of  reconstruction  activities  in i_  80-83 

(See  also  Austria-Hungary.) 

Illiteracy  in  China 31 

Immigration : 

Canada 22 

Germany 77 

International 86 

Imports : 

Belgium 16, 17 

China  31 

France 47,  48 

Germany 57,  76,  77 

Italy 88,  90 

Japan 101 

Mexico 104 

Sweden 120 

Turkey 121,  122 

United  Kingdom 123,  145,  151 

{See  also  Trade,  foreign.) 

Indemnity : 

Belgium 17,  18 

France 45 

{See  also  Damage.) 

India,  development  of  water  power  of 83 

Industrial  councils  of  employers  and  employees,  in  Great  Britain 126, 

127, 146, 147, 161, 162, 168 

Industrial  League,  The,  in  Great  Britain 147 

Industrial  parliament  convened  by  British  Government 168 

Industrial  parliament,  proposed  by  a  conference  as  a  permanent  institu- 
tion in  Great  Britain,  with  parliamentary  sanction 170 

Industrial  relations: 

Canada 25 

Germany 67-69,  76 

Hungary 80 

Italy 101 

Norway 108,   109 

United  Kingdom 126, 127, 131, 135, 146, 147, 157, 160-162, 168, 170 

Industry,  department  of: 

Canada 30 

Mexico 102 

Industry,  investigation  of  conditions  of.     {See  Economic  conditions.) 

Industry,  nationalization  and  socialization  of.     {See  Socialization.) 

Industry,  rehabilitation  and  readjustment  of: 

Belgium 16,17 

Czecho-Slovakia 32 

France 37-39,  41-47,  51 

Germany 57,  58,  70,  71,  73-77,  79 

Greece 79,80 

Hungary 80 

Italy 87,  88,  90,  91,  93-95,  100 

Spain , . 118,  119 

United  Kingdom 123,  125,  129,  134,  137,  141,  144-1^,  153,  154,  165,  166 

Insurance,  aircraft  and  bombardment,  discontinued  by  Government  of 

Great    Britain ; 154 

Insurance,  cargo,  in  Great  Britain 138 

Insurance,  nationalization  of,  in  Russia 113,  114 

Insurance  or  allowances  for  unemployment : 

Australia 11 

German-Austria 54,  55 

Germany 59,  62,  66,  67,  73,  75 

Hungary , 80 

International—, ^ 86 

Italy 96,98 

United  Kingdom 130,  131,  134 


180  INDEX. 

Interallied  Commission  for  the  Industrial  and  Agricultural  Reconstruc-    Page, 
tion  of  Belgium . 16 

Interallied  council  of  relief    84,  85 

International  foreign-trade  statistics,  uniform  classification  of 84 

International  labor  legislation: 

German  imperial  labor  bureau's  program . 74,  75 

Proposals  of  International  Association  for  Labor  Legislation 83,84 

Proposals  of  labor  committee  of  French  Chamber  of  Deputies 39 

Report  on,  of  commission  of  Peace  Conference 85,  86 

International  matters,  digest  of  references  to 83-86 

International  Sleeping  Car  Co 85 

International  conferences  at  Berne 85 

Ireland : 

Production  of  flax  in 142 

Reconstruction  problems  in 143,144 

Reconstruction  work  for  demobilized  soldiers  and  sailors  in 162 

(See  also  United  Kingdom.)  ^ 

Iron  and  steel  industry  and  other  metal  industries : 

France 37,43,47 

'■      Germany 69,  70,  74 

i       Italy 91,100 

Spain ; 119 

United  Kingdom 123,127,138,160 

Irrigation.      {See  Reclamation.) 

Italy : 

Aerial   postal    service   in 34 

Agricultural  condition  in : 46 

Digest  of  reconstruction  activities  in 86-101 

Supreme  Council  dealing  with  supply  of  food  to  liberated  and  enemy 
territory,  represention  on 84,  85 

JiVpan : 

Development    by,    of   Chinese    shipping 31 

■-     Development  by,  of  colonization  in  Brazil 19 

Digest  of  reconstruction  activities  in 101, 102 

Monopolization  of  trade  of  China 31 

'     Relation  to  Siberian  railway  system : 115 

Secret   treaties   with    China 31 

Joint  industrial  councils,  of  employers  and  employees,  in  Great  Britain__      126, 
127, 146, 147, 161, 162, 168 

Key  industries  in  Great  Britain 125,  128 

King  George  V,  speech  of,  opening  Parliament 160,  161,  163 

Canada 24,  25 

Germany  60,  74,  7f, 

Labor  disputes.     (See  Arbitration;  Industrial  councils;  Industrial  rela- 
tions. ) 

Labor,  hours  of:     (See  Hours  of  labor.) 

Labor  legislation : 

France 38 

German- Austria 54 

Germany  55,  56 

United  Kingdom 124 

(See  also  Child  labor;  Hours  of  labor;  Wages;  Working  conditions.) 

Labor  legislation,  international: 

France ^ _: 38,39 

Germany ^ 74,  75 

Proposed  by  International  Association  for  Labor  Legislation 83,  84 

Report  on,  of  commission  of  Peace  Conference 85,  86 

Labor  organizations,  programs  of: 

France ^ 38.  39,  48,  49,  52 

Germany 55,56,60,74-76 

'•    International 85 

Italy 96,97 

United  Kingdom 131,  141 

Labor  shortage  in  Germany 75 

Land,  acquisition  of,  for  public  purposes,  in  Great  Britain 132 

Land  settlement  of  soldiers  and  sailors: 

^<     Australia . 9, 11-13 

Canada 20,  23,  24,  27,  28 


IN^DEX.  181 

Land  settlement  of  soldiers  and  sailors — Continuei.  Page. 

Germany 67,  68,  70 

Hungary 81 

New  Zealand 107,  108 

South  Africa -       118 

United  Kingdom 143,  145,  159 

Leather  goods  industry  in  Great  Britain 165 

Leather,  sole,  to  be  released  for  civilian  puriwses  in  Great  Britain 149,  150 

Linen,  production  of,  in  Canada 21 

Liquor  traffic,  restriction  of.  in  Paraguay 109 

Liverpool,  use  of  motion  pictures  by  Chamber  of  Commerce  of,  to  advertise 

commercial  interests 169 

Lloyd  George,  Premier,  address  of 161 

Loans  for  agriculture.     (/See  Agriculture;  Land  settlement  of  soldiers.) 
Loans,  Government : 

Bohemia 32 

Germany 64 

Spain 118 

Loans  to  industrial  and  commercial  coitcerns.      {^ee  Finance,  banking, 

and  credit ;  Industry,  rehabilitation  of. ) 
Loans  to  soldiers  and  sailors : 

Australia 89 

Italy 90 

(iSfee  aUo  Land  settlement;  State  assistance.) 
London : 

Aerial  service  from  Australia ' 10 

Bankers  of,  anxiety  to  invest  in  Belgian  industries 18 

Belgian  traders  in,  unite  to  purchase  supplies  for  Belgium 16-18 

Canadian  Trade  Mission  in 21 

Exchange  rate  with  Peru  fixed ^__      110 

Italian  mission  to,  to  study  reconstruction  problems 88 

Speech  of  Miss  Fry,  of  London  branch  of  Friends'  War  Victims  Relief 

Committee,  on  conditions  in  Belgium_____^ ^__ 18 

I-umber,  purchase  of,  by  Great  Britain  in  Canada 150 

Lumber,  sale  at  cost  by  Canadian  merchants  to  soldiers  settling  on  land 28 

Manitoba,  financing  of  public  works  in 21 

Melbourne,  Trades  Hall  Council  of,  inaugurates  movement  for  44-hour 

week  in  Australia ; 13,  14 

Materials,  war,  disposal  and  utilization  of.     {^ee  War  materials.) 
Medical,  surgical,  and  hospital  treatment  of  disabled  soldiers : 

Austria-Hungary 15 

Canada 20,  26.  28,  29 

France 53 

'  Italy 90 

United  Kingdom 154,  159,  163 

Merchant  marine : 

Argentina 8 

Canada : 27 

China 31 

Denmark 33 

France 49,  50,  52 

Germany 71,  74,  77 

Italy 90-93 

United  Kingdom 123 

127,  129,  132,  141,  144,  146,  150,  151,  155,  156,  160,  161 
Metal  industries.     (/Sfee  Iron  and  steel.) 

Metric  system,  proposed  adoption  of,  in  United  Kingdom 123 

Mexico : 

Digest  of  reconstruction  activities  in 102-104 

Organized  labor  in,  cooperation  of  with  American  Federation  of  Labor-      109 

Milan,  public  works  in 92,  96 

Mkies  and  mining: 

Alsace-Lorraine . 8,  52,  71 

Austria-Hungary 14 

Child  labor  in,  proposed  international  legislation  as  to 83 

France , 42,  43,  45,  52 

Germany 56,  66,  68,  73-75,  78 


182  iNhKX 

Mines  and  mining — Continuo(h  )i  /*'.>        ^fvipauct'" 

Greece : 80 

Hungary 82 

International 83,  86 

Netherlands 105 

Poland 111 

Spain 118 

United  Kingdom 126,  127,  131,  148,  160 

{See  also  Coal.) 

Monopolies,  GoA'ernment :  i 

Italy 97-99 

Poland . 111 

Montenegro,  steps  taken  to  develop  agriculture  in 104 

Montevideo,  location  of  branch  of  Royal  Bank  of  Canada  in 25 

Motherhood,  national  endowment  of,  proposed  in  Great  Britain 158 

Motion  pictures  for  commercial  propaganda : 

Canada 24 

United  Kingdom 169 

Motion    pictures   showing   work   of   Canada   in   treatment,    reeducation, 

and  employment  of  disabled  soldiers 20 

Motor  vehicles,  British,  investigation  of  markets  for,  in  Australia,  New 

Zealand,  India,  and  the  Far  East 165 

Munition  workers  and  other  war  workers,  demobilization  of:  • 

Germany 61,  65,  73 

United  Kingdom 128-130,  132-134,  139,  140,  145,  157,  161 

National  Alliance  of  Employers  and  Employed,  Great  Britain 157 

National  Industrial  League  of  Finland  to  hold  national  fair  in  1919 34 

Nationalization  of  industry.     (See  Government  ownership;  Socialization.) 

Nationalization  of  insurance  in  Russia 113,  114 

Netherlands : 

Assistance  of,  in  reconstruction  of  France 51 

Digest  of  reconstruction  activities  in 104-107 

New  Brunswick,  land  settlement  of  soldiers  in 23 

New  South  Wales : 

Agreement  with  Victoria  as  to  public  works 14 

Land  settlement  of  soldiers  in 9, 11, 12 

Political  federation  of  returned  soldiers  in 9 

'Training  of  returned  soldiers  in,  for  Government  railway  workshops.        14 
Unemployment  insurance  in 11 

New  York : 

Exchange  rate  with  Peru  fixed 110 

Exhibition  of  French  goods  in 44 

New  Zealand,  digest  of  reconstruction  activities  in 107,  108 

Night  work.     {See  Hours  of  labor.) 

Norway : 

Digest  of  reconstruction  activities  in 108, 109 

Prance,  assistance  in  reforestation 49,50 

Organizations   of  returned   soldiers   and   sailors  for   political  purposes 

in  Australia 9 

Pan  American  Federation  of  Labor 109 

Panama  Canal  Zone,  resumption  of  radio  service  in 109 

Paris: 

Belgian  reconstruction  committee  in 18 

Belgian  traders  in,  unite  to  purchase  supplies  for  Belgium 16 

Express  trains  to  resume  service  with  Constantinople 85 

Italian  mission  to,  to  study  reconstruction  problems 88 

Peruvian  exchange  in " 110 

Royal  Bank  of  Canada  to  have  branch  in 25 

Societe  d'Economique  of . 7 

Parliament,  British,  inclusion  in  of  many  army  service  men  and  others 

distinguished  for  service  in  war 152 

Passports  for  leaving  Great  Britain 131 

Peace  Conference,  report  of  commission  on  international  labor  legisla- 
tion   -, 85,  86 

Pensions,  allowances,  and  compensation  for  disability,  to  soldiers  and 
sailors  and  their  families: 

Australia 9 

Canada 22,  26,  29 


INHEX.  183 

Teiisrons,  allowances,  and  compensation  for  disability,  etc.^-^Continued.        I'age. 

Germany 59 

Italy 90,  91,  97 

South  Africa II7 

{See  also  Bonuses;   Families;   Medical,  etc.,   treatment;   State  as- 
sistance. ) 

Peru,  digest  of  reconstruction  activities  in 110 

Poland,  digest  of  reconstruction  activities  in 110,  111 

Political  federation  of  returned  soldiers  in  Australia 9 

Ports,  improvement  of: 

France 48,49 

Italy 90,98 

United   Kingdom '. I45 

Portugal : 

Digest  of  reconstruction  activities  in 111,  112 

Release  from  army,  of  men  who  might  contribute  to  extension  of 

influence  of  Allies  in  Brazil . 19 

Postal  service,  aerial,  in  European  countries 34 

{See  also  Aerial  service.) 

Potash,  Alsatian,  effect  of  loss  of  on  Germany 71 

Potash  output  of  Alsace  needed  for  France 8 

Potash  supply  for  Great  Britain 126, 127 

Pottery  industry  in  Great  Britain 166 

Power  development : 

France 35,42 

Hungary 82 

India 83 

Italy 91 

Spain 118 

United  Kingdom 144, 148 

Prices,  Government  regulation  of : 

Canada 21,22 

Russia 113 

Sweden 120 

Uruguay 171 

Prices,  probable  course  of,  in  Great  Britain 153 

Priorities  in  use  of  raw  materials  in  Great  Britain 128,  125,  146 

Profit  sharing  in  industry  in  Italy 98 

Public  welfare,  ministry  for,  in  German-Austria 54 

Public  works,  construction  of,  to  relieve  unemployment : 

Australia 13,14 

Canada , 21,  27, 28 

France 40,  44,  45 

Italy 87,  90-92,  95-98 

New  Zealand 107, 108 

Poland 110,  111 

United  Kingdom 140, 145, 161, 166, 167, 169 

Queensland : 

Land  settlement  for  soldiers  in 12 

Returned  soldiers'  political  federation 9 

Radio  service,  resumption  of,  in  Panama  Canal  Zone 109 

Railroad  equipment : 

Belgium 17 

France 47 

Italy 95,  99, 100 

Mexico 103 

Spain 119 

United  Kingdom 124, 125, 131, 132, 145, 169 

Railroads  and  other  transportation  facilities,  reconstruction  and  develop- 
ment of,  and  restoration  to  normal  conditions : 

Canada 27 

France 37,  38,  40, 44,  45,  47,  49,  53 

International 85 

Italy 95,97-100 

New  Zealand 108 

Siberia 115 

Switzerland 120,121 

United  Kingdom 124, 125, 131, 132, 135, 145, 150, 161, 169 


184  INDEX. 

Railroads,  Government  ownership,  operation,  or  control  of :  Page. 

Australia 14 

Canada 22, 27 

Italy 98,  99 

Mexico 118 

Spain 102 

United  Kingdom 131,  135,  144,  151,  162 

Railway  service,  express,  resumption  of,  between  Paris  and  Constanti- 
nople          85 

Raw  materials,  need,  distribution,  and  control  of : 

Belgium 17 

France- 37,  43,  46,  51,  52 

Germany 75 

Greece 79 

Hungary 80 

Italy 87,  90-95,  98 

Netherlands 104 

Poland——: 111 

Spain 119 

United  Kingdom 123, 125, 127, 128, 144-146, 161 

Reclamation  and  irrigation  of  land : 

Chile 30,31 

Italy 89,98 

New  Zealand 108 

Turkey 122 

United  Kingdom 123 

{See  also  Land  settlement.) 

Reforestation : 

Bel^um 86 

France___ 49,  50,  86 

United  Kingdom 86 

Repatriation  of  refugees  in  Belgium 17 

Reserve,  British,  demobilized  men  to  be  placed  in,  until  ratification  of 
peace  treaty 139 

Rhine,  freedom  of,  recommended  by  French  commission  to  be  guaranteed 
by   peace   treaty 52 

Rio  de  Janeiro,  location  of  branch  of  Royal  Bank  of  Canada  in 25 

Road  building : 

Canada 27,28 

Italy : 98 

New  Zealand 108 

United  Kingdom 140, 145, 161, 166, 167, 169 

(See  also  Public  works.) 

Rome : 

Mission  dispatched  to,  to  study  reconstruction  problems 88 

Public  works  of 97 

Russia : 

Commercial  relations  with  Switzerland 121 

Digest  of  reconstruction  activities  in . 112, 115 

Russia- Siberia,  digest  of  reconstruction  activities  in 115, 116 

Safety  of  workers,  proposed  international  legislation  as  to 83,  84 

Safety  of  workers.     (See  also  Working  conditions.) 

Saskatchewan,  financing  of  public  works  in 21 

Scandinavian  countries,  plans  for  cooperation  between 116 

Science  and  invention,  application  to  industry : 

Germany 75,  78,  79 

United  Kingdom 125,  165,  166 

(See  also  Economic  conditions,  investigation  of;  industry,  rehabilita- 
tion of.) 

Scotland,  request  of,  for  railroad  and  road  machinery  and  equipment, 
on  its  being  set  free  in  France 169 

Scotland.     (See  also  United  Kingdom.) 

Settlement,  land.     (See  Land  settlement.) 

Settlements,  industrial,  for  returned  subnormal  soldiers  and  sailors  in 

Australia 10 

Shipbuilding : 

Argentina 8 

Canada 27 


IKDEX.  185 

Shipbuilding— Continued.  Page. 

CMna 31 

Germany 1 74 

Italy 91 

United  Kingdom 123, 132, 146, 160 

(See  also  Merchant  marine.) 
Shipping.     (See  Merchant  marine;  ports.) 

Siberia,  digest  of  reconstruction  activities  in .-  115-117 

Silk  trade  in  Italy 99 

Skilled  men,  preference  of,  over  dilutees,  in  Great  Britain 163, 164 

Small  arms,  manufacture  of,  by  Government,  in  Australia 13 

Socialization  of  industry: 

France . 48 

Germany 69,78 

Greece 80 

Italy 92 

Poland 111 

Russia 112-115 

Siberia :_______ 116 

(See  also  Government  ownership.) 

South  Africa,  digest  of  reconstruction  activities  in 117,118 

South  Australia,  land  settlement  of  soldiers  in .- 9, 11 

Spain : 

Commercial  agents  of  Mexico  in 104 

Digest  of  reconstruction  activities  in 118, 119 

State  assistance  for  soldiers  and  sailors : 

Australia 8,9 

Austria-Hungary 15 

German-Austria 54 

Germany 57,  60,  61 

(See  also  Bonuses;  Families;  Loans;  Land  settlement;  Medical,  etc., 
treatment;  Settlements,  industrial;  Vocational  training.) 
Steel  manufacture.     (See  Iron  and  steel.) 

Stock  raising  in  Argentina 8 

Stock  raising.     (See  also  Agriculture.) 

Storage,  cold,  of  foods  in  Italy 90 

Storage  facilities  in  Great  Britain 136,137,144 

Straits  Settlements,  new  steamship  lines  from,  to  United  States 119, 120 

Supplies,  disposal  and  utilization  of.     (See  War  materials.) 
Swift  &  Co. ;  activity  of,  in  securing  financing  of  Argentine  live-stock  de- 
velopment    8 

Sweden : 

Commercial  interests  in  Russia 113 

Digest  of  reconstruction  activities  in 120 

Economic  cooperation  with  other  Scandinavian  countries 116 

Trade  agreement   with  Finland 34,35 

Switzerland : 

Atlantic  port  for 35 

Digest  of  reconstruction  activities  in 120, 121 

Freedom  of  Rhine  advantageous  to 52 

Tariffs : 

Canada 22 

France 35,  47,  52 

International 85 

(See  also  Economic  conditions;  Trade,  foreign.) 

Tasmania,  land  settlement  for  soldiers  in 12 

Toronto,  housing  plans  of 29,  30 

Taxation  and  revenue.     (See  Finance,  banking,  and  credit.) 

Telephone  service,  resumption  of,  in  France 50 

Textile  industry : 

Canada 24 

France 37,42 

Germany 56-58,70 

United  Kingdom 123,  136,  142,  157,  160 

Timber  resources  of  South  Africa,  report  on  question  of  making  avail- 
able for  general  industrial  purposes 118 

Trade-mark,  collective,  for  French  products 36 

Trade-mark,  collective,  for  Swiss  products 120 


186  INDEX. 

Trade,  foreign:  PafeejtJ 

Belgium _ 16,17 

Brazil t. , 19 

Canada 21,  27 

China 31 

France 44,  47 

Germany 60,  64,  72,  76^79 

International ;  uniformity  of  statistics 84 

Italy 86-88,  91,  94,  98,  99 

Japan 101 

Mexico 103,104 

Netherlands 105 

Norway ___      108 

Peru 110 

Russia , 112-114 

Spain ,      119  . 

Sweden 120 

Turkey 121, 122 

United  Kingdom 125,  129,  145,  150,  165,  167 

(See  also  Economic  conditions;  Exports;  Imports;  Tariffs.) 
Transition  period,  organization  for.     (See  Commissions,  etc.) 
Transportation  of  discharged  soldiers: 

Canada 20 

Germany 60 

Transportation  of  munition  workers  to  homes  in  Great  Britain 130 

Treaties,  secret,  between  China  and  Japan 31 

Tuberculosis : 

Austria-Hungary 15 

France 53 

Italy 90 

Turkey,  digest  of  reconstruction  activities  in 121, 122 

Unemployment : 

Australia 10, 11, 13, 14 

Canada 25,  27 

Denmark 33 

France 39, 44,  51,  52 

German-Austria 54,  55 

Germany 56,  59, 61,  73-78 

Hungary 82 

Italy 96, 98, 100 

Netherlands 104 

Poland 111 

United  Kingdom 131,  142,  143,  155,  164 

(See  also  Employment  of  returned  soldiers;  Vocational  education; 
Vocational  training.) 
Unemployment  insurance,  or  Government  allowances: 

Australia 11 

Canada 27 

German-Austria 54,  55 

Germany 59,  62,  66, 67,  73,  75 

Hungary 80 

International 86 

Italy 96,98 

United  Kingdom 130, 131, 134 

United  Kingdom  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland: 

Aerial  service  between  London  and  Australia 10 

Banking  activities  in  Turkey 122 

Dairy  farms,  establishment  of,  in  Mesopotamia 122 

Digest  of  reconstruction  activities  in 122-170 

Investment  in  Belgian  industries 18 

Mexican  trade  with 104 

Netherlands  to  appoint  special  commission  to  promote  trade  with 105 

Reclamation  work  in  Mesopotamia 122 

Reforestation  of,  to  have  aid  of  American  Forestry  Association 86 

Return  of  refugees  to  Belgium 17 

Supreme  Council  dealing  with  supply  of  food  to  liberated  and  enemy 
territory,  representation  on j. 84,  85 


INDEX.  187 

United  States  of  America:  Page. 

Alsace,  potash  from,  not  available  in  spring  of  1919 8 

Belgium,  extension  of  credit  to,  by  bankers 18 

Belgium,  request  by,  for  loan  of  railroad  equipment 17 

Czecho-Slovakia,  trade  relations  with 33 

England,  France,  and  Italy,  report  of  commission  of  United  States 

Department  of  Agriculture  on  conditions  in 34 

France,  supply  of  raw  materials  and  manufactured  articles  to 46,  51,  52 

French  board  to  deyelop  markets  in 44 

Germany,  condition  of  American-owned  factories  in 77 

Great  Britain,  France,  and  Belgium,  assistance  of  American  Forestry 

Association  in  reforestaftion  of 86 

Italy,  trade  with 99 

Mexico,  relations  with — 

Claims  for  damages  througl)  Mexican  revolution 103 

Commercial   agents   of   Mexico   in 103 

Conciliatory  policy  of  Mexico  toward 103 

Organized  labor,  cooperation  of,  in  Mexico  and  United  States —      109 

Railroad  equipment,  supply  of,  to  Mexico 103 

Norway,  exposition  of  American  goods  in,  during  summer  of  1919 108 

Peru,   extension  of  credit  to 110 

Portugal,  extension  of  trade  with 111 

Russian  trade,  activities  with  respect  to 114, 115 

Spain,  closer  commercial  relations  with 119 

Singapore,  steamship  communication  with 119, 120 

Supreme  Council  dealing  with  supply  of  food  to  liberated  and  enemy 

territory,   representation   on 84,  85 

Vladivostok,  resumption  of  steamer  service  to 117 

Uruguay : 

Digest    of    reconstruction    activities    in 170, 171 

Royal  Bank  of  Canada  to  have  branch  in 25 

Victoria : 

Agreement  of  with  New  South  Wales  as  to  public  works 14 

Land  settlement  of  soldiers  in 9,  11,  1,  12 

Returned  soldiers'  political  federation  in 9 

Vocational  training  of  soldiers  in 10 

Vladivostok,  resumption  of  steamship  service  with  Canadian  and  United 
States  ports 117 

Vocational  education,  general : 

Denmark  33 

Greece   80 

Italy : ^ 87,98 

United  Kingdom 142, 143, 163 

Vocational  training  and  r^abilitation  of  returned  soldiers  and  sailors : 

Australia 10, 13, 14 

Austria-Hungary 15,16 

Canada 20-23,  26,  29 

France '_ 36 

Germany 58,60 

Italy 90 

New   Zealand 107 

South  Africa 117 

United  Kingdom 147,  159,  163 

Wages,  new  method  of  payment  of,  by  a  British  concern 169, 170 

Wages,  regulation  of: 

France 38 

Germany 61,  62,  72,  76 

International ^ 84,86 

Netherlands 107 

United  Kingdom 126, 135, 146, 157, 162, 168, 170 

Wales,  prices  of  cereals  for  1919  guaranteed  in 142 

Wales.     (See  also  United  Kingdom.) 

War  materials,  disposal  and  utilization  of: 

Austria-Hungary 15 

France 48 

Germany . 62,  69,  70 


188  INDEX. 

War  materials,  disposal  and  utilization  of — Continued.  Page. 

Italy 91 

United  Kingdom 134, 135, 144, 149, 152, 164 

War  memorials  in  England 157 

War  risk  cargo  insurance.  Great  Britain 138 

War  savings  organizations,  British,  continuance  of 151, 152 

War  Trade  Board,  United  States,  statement  of  as  to  Alsatian  potash 8 

War  workers.     (See  Munition  workers.) 

Warsaw,  conferences  of  heads  of  Polish  Government  held  in 110,  111 

Washington,  D.  G.,  meeting  of  committee  of  Pan  American  Federation 

of  Labor  in 109 

Water  power.     (See  Power.) 
Waterways,  use  and  improvement  of: 

Germany 71 

United  Kingdom 145 

Weekly  day  of  rest.     (See  Hours  of  labor.) 

Whitley  report,  of  British  reconstruction  committee  on  relations  of  em- 
ployers and  employed,  recommending  formation  of  joint  standing  in- 
dustrial councils ;  developments  thereunder 126, 127,  146, 147, 161,  162, 168 

Women,  employment  of,  international  restrictions  as  to : 

Proposed  by  International  Association 83,84 

Proposed  by  Peace  Conference  commission 85,86 

Women  war  workers : 

Germany 73 

Italy 88 

Wool,  abolition  of  control  over,  in  Great  Britain 141, 142 

Woolen  and  worsted  industry  in  Great  Britain 136 

Woolen  fabrics,  manufacture  of,  by  Government,  in  Australia .. 13 

Woolen  manufacture.     (See  Textile  industry.) 
Working  conditions  and  safety  of  workers: 

Germany 56, 76 

International —  83, 84 

United  Kingdom 157, 161, 162 

Workmen's  compenstation  in  Great  Britain;  reimbursement  by  Govern- 
ment of  losses  of  insurance  companies  due  to  greater  liability  of  dis- 
abled men  to  serious  accident 136 

Young  Women's  Christian  Association  foyers  in  France,  continuance  of, 
work  by  French 45 

o 


UNITED  STATES  COUNCIL  OF  NATIONAL  DEFENSE 

» 

RECONSTRUCTION  RESEARCH  DIVISION 


Readjustment  and  Reconstruction 
Information 


II 

READJUSTME^JT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION 
ACTIVITIES  IN  THE  STATES 


mm 


WASHINGTON,  D.  C. 
November  25,  1919 


V/ASHINOTOM  :  GOVERNMENT  PRINTJNQ  OFFIOB  I  JfiJO 


UNITED  STATES  COUNCIL  OF  NATIONAL  DEFENSE 

RECONSTRUCTION  RESEARCH  DIVISION 


Readjustment  and  Reconstruction 
Information 


II 

READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION 
ACTIVITIES  IN  THE  STATES 


WASHINGTON,  D.  C. 
November  25,  1919 


WASHINQTON  !  GOVERNMENT  PRINTINQ  OFFICE  ;  IBIS 


CONTENTS. 


Page. 

Alabama 7 

Alaska 11 

Arizona '. 13 

Arkansas 17 

California 20 

Colorado 40 

Connecticut 47 

Delaware 54 

District  of  Columbia 60 

Florida 05 

Georgia 67 

Guam ^ 71 

Hawaii 71 

Idaho--. 72 

Illinois 77 

Indiana 89 

Iowa 97 

Kansas 101 

Kentucky 105 

Louisiana 111 

Maine 116 

Maryland 121 

Massachusetts 127 

Michigan 141 

Miiniesota 154 

Mississippi 166 

Missouri 109 


1/ 


Page. 

Montana 176 

Nebraska 181 

Nevada 187 

New  Hampshire 189 

New  Jersey 193 

New  Mexico 206 

New  York 210 

North  Carolina 244 

North  Dakota 247 

Ohio 251' 

Oklahoma 263 

Oregon 267 

Pennsylvania 278 

Philippine  Islands 296 

Porto  Rico 297 

Rhode  Island 297 

South  Carolina 800 

South  Dakota 304 

Tennessee 308 

Texas 313 

Utah 321 

Vermont 326 

Virginia 330 

Washington 335 

West  Virginia 347 

Wisconsin 350 

Wyoming 364 

8 


LETTER  OF  TRANSMITTAL 


U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 

Washington^  November  25^  1919. 
Hon.  Xewton  D.  Baker, 

Secretary  of  ^Var  and  Chairman  of  the 

U.  S.  Coimcil  of  National  Defense. 

Sir  :  This  report  fills  several  distinct  needs.  First,  it  informs  Con- 
gress, the  executive  branches  of  the  Government,  and  the  public  of 
the  reconstruction  and  readjustment  activities  and  problems  of  the 
States.  Second,  it  informs  the  States  as  to  the  reconstruction  and 
readjustment  problems  and  activities  of  one  another  so  that  there 
may  be  careful  comparative  study  by  State  authorities  before  legis- 
lative action  within  the  States.  Third,  it  is  obviously  a  definite  his- 
torical contribution  concerning  life  in  America  during  the  period  of 
reconstruction  and  readjustment. 

More  specifically,  the  report,  prepared  at  my  direction  by  the 
Reconstruction  Research  Division,  of  Avhich  Herbert  X.  Shenton  is 
chief,  contains  information  concerning  reconstruction  and  read- 
justment activities  in  the  several  States,  Territories,  and  island  pos- 
sessions. 

The  information  has  been  obtained  from  the  various  Federal  Gov- 
ernment agencies  which  have  cooperated  with  State  organizations 
in  such  activities,  from  the  session  laws  of  the  several  States,  and  by 
correspondence  with  governors  of  States  and  other  officials  and 
organizations.  Wherever  possible  original  sources  have  been  re- 
sorted to.  To  this  end  letters  have  been  sent  to  all  governors  and 
State  councils  of  defense,  inclosing  the  compilations  prepared  from 
existing  sources,  and  asking  them  to  make  necessary  corrections  and 
additions. 

In  selecting  the  material  for  this  compilation  such  activities  have 
been  included  as  were  newl}'  undertaken  or  greatly  increased  as  a 
result  of  conditions  brought  on  by  the  termination  of  hostilities,  and 
which  would  not  have  been  undertaken  under  normal  conditions. 
Activities  undertaken  during  the  war,  solely  to  meet  war  conditions, 
have  not  been  included. 

A  number  of  activities  have  been  included  which  in  themselvets 
are  not  strictly  readjustment  or  reconstruction  matters,  but  which 
nevertheless  have  an  important  bearing  upon  reconstruction.  For 
illustration,  the  information  concerning  the  construction  ajid  repair 

5 


b  LETTER  OP  TRANSMITTAL. 

of  highways,  the  carrying  on  of  public  works,  etc.,  which  are  ac- 
tivities that  would  have  been  prosecuted  regardless  of  the  war  but 
which,  on  account  of  the  demobilization  and  in  order  to  give  em- 
ployment to  discharged  service  men,  have  been  very  materially  in- 
creased and  are  carried  forward  on  a  very  much  larger  scale  than 
they  would  have  been  if  it  had  not  been  for  this  motive. 

On  the  other  hand,  a  number  of  activities  which  by  many  are  re- 
garded as  being  in  the  nature  of  readjustment  or  reconstruction,  such 
as  labor  laws,  workmen's  compensation  aud  insurance  laws,  child  pro- 
tection laws,  general  educational  l^\ys,  etc.,  have  not  been  included, 
because  such  laws  have  been  enacted  from  time  to  time  regardless  of 
war  conditions;  and,  besides,  to  do  so  would  have  been  an  invasion  of 
the  field  already  covered  by  the  Bureau  of  Labor  Statistics  of  the  De- 
partment of  Labor,  the  Bureau  of  Education  oi  the  Department  of 
the  Interior,  and  other  Federal  bureaus. 

Among  the  activities  included  are  many  important  readjustment 
and  reconstruction  bills  introduced  in  the  State  legislatures,  even 
though  they  were  not  enacted  into  laws. 

In  compiling  the  information  for  each  State,  the  items  have  been 
grouped  under  subjects;  the  State  activities  appearing  first,  in 
chronological  order,  followed  by  the  activities  of  counties  and  cities, 
in  alphabetical  order.  A  uniform  system  of  classification  of  sub- 
jects has  been  adopted  for  all  the  States,  so  that  similar  activities 
can  be  readily  traced  through  the  several  States.  This  is  further 
facilitated  by  a  detailed  alphabetical  index  of  subjects. 
Faithfully,  yours, 

(Signed)  Grosvenor  B.  Clarkson, 

Director  of  the  U,  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 


ALABAMA. 

"  Back-to-School "  Drive. 

The  *"  Back-to-school ''  drive  is  being  pushed  throughout  the 
Sfate. — [Letter  from  State  division  of  the  Woman's  Committee  to 
U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Feb.  20,  1919.] 

The  child  welfare  department  of  the  State  division  of  the  Woman's 
Committee  has  employed  a  paid  agent  to  organize  publicity  for  the 
"  Back-to-school  "  drive.  The  State  superintendent  of  education  has 
issued  a  letter  to  county  superintendents  asking  support  for  the 
*'  Back-to-school "  drive. — [Report  of  child  conservation  section  of 
the  Field  Division  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Oct.  1, 
1918,  to  July  1,  1919.] 

Community  Organization. 

A  six  weeks'  campaign  of  the  Birmingham  Chamber  of  Commerce 
to  carr}^  out  community  betterment  plans  resulted  in  an  expansion 
of  its  membership  from  400  to  2,300. — [Tribune,  New  York,  N.  Y., 
Aug.  8,  1919.] 
Council  of  Defense. 

The  governor,  in  his  message,  laid  before  the  legislature  the  re- 
quest of  the  United  States  Council  of  National  Defense  that  the 
State  council  of  defense  be  continued  in  order  to  assist  in  reconstruc- 
tion work. — [Alabama  Legislature,  1919,  Docs.  1,  5,  Reg.  Sess.] 

In  accordance  with  a  law  enacted  February  18,  the  governor  has 
appointed  a  postwar  council  of  defense,  consisting  of  the  State  super- 
intendent of  education,  the  State  director  of  the  department  of 
archives  and  history,  the  State  health  officer,  the  State  highway  en- 
gineer, the  chairman  of  the  State  division  of  the  Woman's  Commit- 
tee of  the  United  States  Council  of  National  Defense,  and  two  mem- 
bers of  the  former  State  council  of  defense.  Authority  is  conferred 
upon  the  council  to  negotiate  and  carry  on  within  the  State  measures 
to  coordinate  the  emergency  activities  of  the  State  with  those  of  the 
Federal  Government  and  other  States  and  agencies,  to  bring  about 
,the  highest  effectiveness'  within  the  State  in  relation  to  problems 
of  demobilization  and  readjustment,  and  to  meet  the  emergencies 
arising  within  the  State  as  the  result  of  the  war.  The  council  is 
charged  with  the  duty  of  developing  in  the  various  communities  an 
intelligent  interest  in  the  improvement  of  health,  sanitation,  welfare, 
recreation  and  social  activities,  and  in  maintaining  the  spirit  of 
organized  community  life  brought  about  during  the  war.    The  new 

7. 


8  UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT   AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

council  will  take  up  whatever  work  was  left  over  by  tlie  old  State 
council  of  defense,  which  was  demobilized  in  January,  and  will  work 
in  harmony  with  the  United  States  Council  of  National  Defense  in 
Washington.  The  legislature  has  appropriated  $5,000  for  expenses. — 
[Letter  from  State  division  of  the  Woman's  Committee  to  U.  S. 
Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  16,  1919;  Slip  Laws  of  Alabama, 
1919,  No.  178.] 

The  State  postwar  council  of  defense  has  retained  the  covmty  coun- 
cils subject  to  call,  but  is  continuing  the  organization  of  community 
councils,  which  will  be  put  on  a  permanent  basis  through  the  exten- 
sion service  and  the  education  department.  Activities  of  the  coun- 
cil are  as  follows :  Further  assisting  all  relief  agencies  in  coordinating 
employment  work  for  the  State ;  continuing  the  apprehension  of  de- 
serters ;  giving  legal  aid  to  discharged  men,  though  few  calls  for  help 
have  come ;  releasing  ncAvspaper  publicity ;  attempting  to  coordinate 
jDOstwar  activities  in  Alabama,  as  the  State  council  of  defense  did 
war  activities ;  continuing  to  combat  illiteracy  until  it  is  stamped  out 
of  the  State;  and  supervising  the  solicitation  of  funds,  though  few 
complaints  of  illegal  solicitation  have  come  in. — [Reply  from  State 
council  of  defense  to  questionnaire  of  the  Field  Division,  U.  S.  Coun- 
cil of  National  Defense,  June  25,  1919.] 
Employment. 

The  State  postwar  council  of  defense  pledged  its  support  toward 
the  maintenance  of  the  United  States  Employment  Service,  and  voted 
to  cooperate  with  the  American  Eed  Cross,  the  Young  Men's  Chris- 
tian Association,  and  all  other  organizations  which  are  preparing 
to  assist  in  carr^^ing  on  this  work  until  an  appropriation  is  made. 
Tt  is  proposed  to  call  a  conference  of  representatives  of  tliese  organi- 
zations for  the  purpose  of  discussing  this  matter. —  [Letter  from  State 
division  of  the  Woman's  Committee  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National 
Defense,  Mar.  16,  1919.] 

In  Mobile  the  War  Camp  Community  Service  was  able  to  place 
soldiers  as  fast  as  they  applied  owing  to  the  preliminary  work  of 
canvassing  the  mercantile  firms  of  the  city.  In  May  a  special  em- 
ployment committee  was  organized  to  further  the  activities  of  the 
employment  bureau. — [Report  of  War  Camp  Community  Service  for 
U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  August,  1919.] 

Employment  offices  maintained  in  Alabama  by  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment in  cooperation  with  State  and  local  organizations,  report  that 
during  the  six  months'  period  from  January  1  to  June  30, 19l9,  31,057 
persons  were  registered  who  were  seeking  employment;  35,744  re- 
quests for  employees  were  received;  and  27,321  persons  were  placed 
by  these  offices. — [Compiled  from  statistics  furnished  by  U.  S.  Em- 
ployment Service,  Aug.  8,  1919.] 


ALABAMA.  -  9 

The  War  and  Xavy  Departments-  citation  has  been  issued  to  385 
firms  in  Ahibama.  these  employers  having  assured  the  War  and  Navy 
Departments  that  they  will  reemploy  everybody  who  formerly 
worked  with  them  and  left  to  serve  in  the  Army  or  Navy  during  the 
AVorld  War — [Memorandum  from  assistant  to  the  Secretary  of  War 
in  the  replacement  of  service  men  to  civil  life,  to  U.  S.  Council  of 
National  Defense,  Nov.  20,  1919.] 
Highways. 

The  governor,  in  his  message,  called  attention  to  the  necessity  of 
taking  positive  action  for  road  improvement,  in  order  to  continue  the 
receipt  of  the  apportioned  Federal  appropriation.— [Alabama  Legis- 
lature, 1919,  Doc.  5.] 

Alabama  contemplates  a  bond  issue  of  $25,000,000  for  a  compre- 
hensive system  of  State  trunk  roads,  a  bill  having  been  introduced  in 
the  legislature  providing  for  such  a  system.  The  legislature  Avill  be 
convened  in  July  to  take  up  the  bill. — [Bulletin  No.  47,  Highways 
Transport  Committee,  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense.] 

On  October  1,  1919,  64  highway  projects  had  been  approved  in  the 
State,  involving  the  improvement  of  388.19  miles  of  road  at  a  total 
estimated  cost  of  $2,432,989.55,  of  which  the  Federal  Government  is 
requested  to  pay  $1,208,882.09  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of 
the  Federal-aid  road  act  of  July  11,  1916,  as  amended  by  the  act  of 
February  28,  1919. — [Statement  prepared  by  Bureau  of  Public 
Roads,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture.] 
Housing  Accommodations. 

Birmingham  is  about  3,000  dwellings  short  of  the  demand,  and 
there  are  six  families  a  day  moving  into  the  city.  The  Chesapeake 
&  Ohio  Railway  Co.  is  meeting  the  shortage  for  its  own  employees  by 
building  and  buying  homes,  and  the  real  estate  exchange  is  consider- 
ing the  problem  for  the  city  in  general. — [Housing  Betterment,  New 
York,  N.  Y.,  February,  1919.] 

Information  Service  for  Returned  Service  Men. 

The  local  branches  of  the  American  Red  Cross  are  cooperating 
with  other  organizations  in  establishing  contacts  Avith  service  men 
for  the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  adjustment  of  their  allotments, 
allowance  accounts,  compensation  and  claims,  and  the  reinstatement 
of  lapsed  or  canceled  insurance.  It  is  the  desire  of  the  Bureau  of 
War  Risk  Insurance  that  all  inquiries  of  this  nature  be  cleared 
through  the  home-service  sections  of  the  American  Red  Cross.  Up  to 
April  1,  1919,  the  American  Red  Cross  had  organized  in  Alabama 
171  units  with  a  total  of  252  Avorkers. — [Statement  prepared  by 
American  National  Red  Cross  for  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
November,  1919.] 


10  UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

land  Settlement. 

The  State  council  of  defense  has  sent  out  letters  to  the  county 
councils  urging  them  to  encourage  and  aid,  in  every  way  possible, 
movements  to  bring  colonies  of  soldiers  to  Alabama  for  settlement 
on  the  cut-over  and  other  lands  of  the  State.  Investigations  have 
already  started  in  the  State,  and  the  State  council  of  defense,  work- 
ing in  harmony  with  business  organizations  and  other  agencies, 
hopes  through  a  cooperative  movement  to  launch  an  extensive  and 
well  planned  soldier-colonization  program. — [Advertiser,  Mont- 
gomery, Ala.,  Nov.  24,  1918.  | 

At  the  first  meeting  of  the  State  postwar  council  of  defense,  the 
organization  pledged  its  support  to  the  movement  of  having  the  State 
represented  in  the  national  scheme  for  soldier-settlement  colonies. 
The  work  of  obtaining  options  on  farm  and  cut-over  lands  in  the 
State,  which  will  be  available  for  farms  for  returned  soldiers,  was 
ordered  continued.  Several  hundred  thousand  acres  of  such  land 
have  been  listed  in  the  State,  and  options  have  been  secured  on  sev- 
eral large  tracts. — [Advertiser.  Montgomery,  Ala.,  Mar.  27,  1919.] 

The  postwar  council  of  defense  created  b}^  the  act  of  February  18, 
is  officially  in  charge  of  soldier-settlement  matters  for  the  State. 
It  is  understood  that  a  soldier-settlement  bill  was  introduced  at  the 
January  session,  but  was  not  passed. — [IMemorandum  from  Reclama- 
tion Service,  U.  iS.  Dept.  of  the  Interior  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National 
Defense,  July  1,  1919.] 
Public  Works. 

Reports  received  in  January,  1919,  cover  32  public  building  and 
construction  projects  which  were  under  \^'ay  or  contemplated  in  the 
State,  aggregating  an  estimated  value  of  $5,690,000.  Of  this  num- 
ber 18  were  street  improvements,  estimated  to  cost  $1,570,000 ;  3  were 
waterworks,  estimated  to  cost  $250,000;  and  2  were  sewers,  esti- 
mated to  cost  $120,000. — [Statistics  compiled  by  Division  of  Public 
Works  and  Construction  Developments,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor,  Apr. 
17,  1919.] 
School  Gardens. 

School  gardens  are  being  conducted  in  52  cities  and  towns,  the 
total  present  enrollment  in  the  State  being  24,623.  In  Birmingham 
during  the  season  of  1919  there  were  6,779  children  enrolled. — [Pre- 
pared from  material  furnished  by  U.  S.  School  Garden  Army  to 
U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Nov.  1,  1919.] 
Teachers  Returning  from  Service. 

Under  an  act  of  the  legislature,  the  State  board  of  examiners  is 
authorized  to  extend  for  two  j'^ears  the  certificates  of  all  persons  who 
at  the  time  they  entered  the  military  or  naval  service  of  the  United 
States  had  a  certific^ite  to  teach  in  the  public  schools  of  Alabama. 


ALASKA.  11 

The  act  also  provides  that  time  spent  in  the  military  or  naval  service 
shall  be  counted  as  time  engaged  in  teaching  on  applications  for  life- 
teaching  certificates. — [Slip  Laws  of  Alabama,  1919,  No.  215.] 
Vocational  Reeducation  of  Disabled  Service  Men. 

In  accordance  with  section  2  of  the  f'ederal  vocational  rehabilita- 
tion act  of  June  27,  1918,  as  amended  July  11,  1919,  arrangeuients 
had  been  made  up  to  October  25,  1919,  by  the  Federal  Board  for 
Vocational  Education  with  six  educational  institutions  in  the  State 
for  the  reeducation  of  service  men  to  overcome  the  handicap  of  dis- 
abilities incurred  in  the  service.  A  total  of  156  such  men  have  been 
sent  to  these  institutions  for  training.  Arrangements  have  also  been 
made  by  this  board  with  six  industrial  establishments  in  the  State 
whereb}^  the  latter  have  undertaken  to  train  six  disabled  men. — - 
[Compiled  from  statement  prepared  by  Rehabilitation  Division,  Fed- 
eral Board  for  Vocational  Education.] 

Woman's  Committee. 

Women  of  the  Jefferson  County  section  of  the  United  States 
Council  of  National  Defense,  now  that  the  war  is  over,  will  continue 
their  work  along  the  lines  of  aiding  all  good  community  work, 
especially  all  movements  for  the  welfare  of  children.  This  action 
was  definitely  decided  on  at  the  meeting  held  at  Birmingham. — • 
[News,  Birmingham,  Ala.,  Mar.  6,  1919.] 

ALASKA. 

Employment. 

All  former  positions  held  by  soldiers  and  war  workers  in  Alaska 
are  open  to  them  upon  their  return.  The  Territorial  council  of 
defense  has  passed  a  resolution  requesting  speedy  discharge  of  all 
Alaskans  held  in  Alaska  camps  and  elsewhere  in  the  United  States 
because  of  the  need  for  help  in  mines.  After  Alaskans  are  cared  for 
it  is  thought  some  additional  men  can  be  given  employment. — [Let- 
ter from  Territorial  council  of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National 
Defense,  Dec.  1,  1918.] 

The  governor  has  sent  out  circulars  to  commercial  clubs,  school 
boards,  city  councils,  and  the  council  of  defense  in  Alaska  asking 
what  provision  they  could  make  for  returning  soldiers.  The  replies 
to  these  letters  indicate  that  the  Territory  can  take  care  of  3,000  addi- 
tional men.  Positions  will  be  available  for  clerks,  teachers,  watch- 
men, and  foremen.  There  is  also  a  shortage  of  mining  help. — [Ex- 
aminer, Los  Angeles,  Calif.,  Dec.  16,  1918.] 

About  2,200  persons  are  now  employed  on  the  Government  rail- 
road work,  among  them  being  many  returned  soldiers  and  sailors. 
It  has  not  been  necessary  to  turn  away  a  single  returned  soldier  or 
sailor  who  has  applied  for  employment. — [Letter  from  the  Alaskan 


12  UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  EECONSTRUCTION. 

Engineering  Commission  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  July, 
25,1919.]    - 

The  War  and  Navy  Departments'  citation  has  been  issued  to  41 
firms  in  Alaska,  these  employers  having  assured  the  War  and  Navy 
Departments  that  they  will  reemploy  ever3'body  who  formerly 
worked  with  them  and  left  to  serve  in  the  Army  or  Navy  during  the 
World  War. — [Memorandum  from  assistant  to  the  Secretary  of  War 
in  the  replacement  of  service  men  to  civil  life,  to  U.  S.  Council  of 
National  Defense,  Nov.  20,  1919.] 

Highways. 

Reports  received  in  January,  1919,  cover  two  projects  of  road 
building,  which  were  contemplated  in  the  Territory,  aggregating 
an  estimated  value  of  $1,000,000. — [Statistics  compiled  by  Divi- 
sion of  Public  Works  and  Construction  Developments,  U.  S.  Dept. 
of  Labor,  Apr.  17,  1919.] 

Information  Service  for  Returned  Service  Men. 

The  local  branches  of  the  American  Red  Cross  are  cooperating 
with  other  organizations  in  establishing  contacts  with  service  men 
for  the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  adjustment  of  their  allotments, 
allowance  accounts,  compensation  and  claims,  and  the  reinstatement 
of  lapsed  or  canceled  insurance.  It  is  the  desire  of  the  Bureau  of 
War  Risk  Insurance  that  all  inquiries  of  this  nature  be  cleared 
through  the  home-service  sections  of  the  American  Red  Cross.  Up 
to  April  1,  1919,  the  American  Red  Cross  had  organized  in  Alaska 

13  units  with  a  total  of  13  workers. — [Statement  prepared  by  Ameri- 
can National  Red  Cross  for  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
November,  1919.] 

Public  Works. 

One  of  the  chief  projects  of  the  Territory  is  the  construction  of 
the  Government  railroad,  which  was  provided  for  by  Congress,  and 
Avhich  with  its  branches  extends  over  a  distance  of  550  miles.  While 
this  project  is  about  80  per  cent  completed,  it  will  take  three  years 
of  time  and  the  expenditure  of  $17,000,000  to  finish  the  system. — 
[Letter  from  the  Alaskan  Engineering  Commission  to  U.  S.  Council 
of  National  Defense,  Nov.  1,  1919.] 

School  Gardens. 

The  total  school  garden  enrollment  reported  in  the  Territory  was 
2,500  children. — [Letter  from  U.  S.'  School  Garden  Army  to  U.  S. 
Council  of  National  Defense,  Nov.  10,  1919.] 
Shipping  Lines. 

A  bill  was  passed  by  both  houses  of  the  legislature  and  approved 
by  the  governor,  which  creates  a  Territorial  shipping  board  author- 
ized to  spend  $300,000  and  to  petition  Congress  for  a  $5,000,000  bond 


AKIZONA.  13 

issue  to  place  Territorial  steamers  in  operation  betAveen  Alaska  and 
Pacific  coast  points.  The  bill  also  authorizes  municipalities  to 
operate  smaller  steamers  between  ports  as  feeders  to  the  Territorial 
lines. — [Post,  Xew  York,  X.  Y.,  Apr.  28,  1019;  communication  from 
Territorial  Eepresentative  to  Congress  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National 
Defense,  Aug.  18,  1919.] 
utilization  of  War  Material. 

V'dst  quantities  of  materials  and  supplies  are  required  in  the  con- 
struction of  the  Government  railroad,  and  where  possible  the  pro- 
visions, machinery,  equipment,  etc.,  gathered  by  the  War  Depart- 
ment for  use  in  prosecuting  the  war,  have  been  turned  over  to  the 
Alaskan  Engineering  Commission,  in  charge  of  the  project,  for  use  in 
this  construction.  One  large  item  in  this  material  is  T.  N.  T.,  which 
is  being  used  with  splendid  success  in  blasting  away  frozen  earth 
and  the  solid  granite  walls  which  are  necessary  to  penetrate  at 
places. — [Letter  from  the  Alaskan  Engineering  Commission  to 
U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  July  25,  1919.] 

ARIZONA. 

Americanization. 

The  Americanization  of  the  foreign-born  population  is  attracting 
Avidespread  interest  and  has  made  great  progress  since  its  beginning. 
It  is  jointly  conducted  by  a  committee  of  the  State  council  of  defense 
and  the  State  division  of  the  Woman's  Committee,  United  States 
Council  of  National  Defense.  The  cooperation  of  the  school  authori- 
ties has  been  gained,  and  a  survey  of  conditions  in  Arizona  made. — 
[Letter  from  State  division  of  the  Woman's  Committee  to  U.  S. 
Council  of  National  Defense,  June  21,  1918.] 

The  State  council  of  defense  has  been  making  a  survey  of  the 
State,  entirely  by  correspondence,  to  supply  basic  information  in  re- 
gard to  the  need  of  Americanization  upon  which  legislation  ought  to 
be  had.  Arizona  has  a  population  of  325,000,  of  which  100,000  are  of 
foreign  birth  or  foreign  parentage.  The  survey  has  established: 
First,  the  imperative  need  for  a  comprehensive  and  thorough  plan 
of  Americanization;  and  second,  the  existence  of  a  general  desire  on 
the  part  of  the  foreign  born  for  the  benefits  of  Americanization. 
What  is  needed  is  legislation  which  will  provide  for  the  compulsory 
(  ducation  of  all  foreign-speaking  residents  up  to  the  age  of  45  years, 
and  a  permanent  organization  for  further  studying  the  needs  of  the 
innnigrant  population  and  for  devising  some  means  of  improving 
domestic,  sanitary,  and  physical  conditions  in  the  communities  where 
necessary.  A  committee  has  been  appointed  to  present  these  recom- 
mendations to  the  legislature  for  action. — [Arizona  Service  Bulletin, 
Phoenix,  Ariz.,  Feb.  1,  1919.] 


14  UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

The  Bureau  of  Naturalization  is  conducting  schools  at  Phoenix 
and  Douglas,  and  letters  received  from  both  the  principals  and  the 
foreigners  indicate  that  good  results  are  being  obtained  there. — 
[Compiled  from  forthcoming  report  of  director  of  citizenship  to 
Commissioner  of  Naturalization,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor,  1920.] 
"  Back-to-School "  Drive. 

The  "Back-to-school"  drive  has  been  inaugurated  in  Arizona  by 
the  child  welfare  department  of  the  State  division  of  the  Wom- 
an's Committee.  Beginning  with  the  fall  of  1919,  a  system  will  be 
inaugurated  by  which  State  aid  will  be  apportioned  to  schools  on 
a  basis  of  school  attendance,  which  will  do  much  to  keep  up  the  at- 
tendance. Children  have  been  advised  to  continue  vocational  train- 
ing as  well  as  academic,  and  superintendents  and  principals  have 
given  unstinted  support  to  their  efforts. — [Report  of  child  conser- 
vation section  of  the  Field  Division  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National 
Defense,  Oct.  1, 1918,  to  July  1,  1919.] 
Council  of  Defense. 

The  State  council  was  dissolved  June  12  by  an  act  of  the  legisla- 
ture. The  council  did  not  attempt  to  continue  county  councils  nor 
to  encourage  the  permanent  establishment  of  community  councils.  A 
detailed  history  of  all  activities  of  the  State  council  was  published. — 
[Reply  from  State  council  of  defense  to  questionnaire  of  the  Field 
Division,  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  July,  1919.] 
Employment. 

It  is  the  intention  to  employ  as  many  returned  soldiers  as  pos- 
sible with  the  money  available,  on  road  construction  and  other 
public  works. — [Telegram  from  the  governor  to  U.  S.  Council  of 
National  Defense,  Mar.  24,  1919.] 

The  War  Veterans'  Association  has  been  formed  in  Phoenix  for 
the  purpose  of  securing  employment  for  returned  soldiers.  Also, 
with  this  end  in  view,  an  industrial  survey  of  Phoenix  has  been  taken 
for  the  purpose  of  locating  all  available  openings.  It  is  believed  that 
the  hearty  cooperation  between  the  State  council  of  defense,  civilian 
committees,  veterans,  and  the  public,  assures  solution  of  all  employ- 
ment problems  that  may  arise. — [Telegram  from  State  council  of 
defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  25,  1919.] 

Jobs  have  been  found  for  soldiers,  and  less  than  a  dozen  are  out 
of  work.  This  has  resulted  from  complete  cooperation  between 
the  American  Red  Cross,  the  State  council  of  defense,  civilian  com- 
mittees, the  public,  and  the  War  Veterans'  Association. — [News 
release  of  State  council  of  defense,  Apr.  6,  1919.] 

Employment  offices  maintained  in  Arizona  by  the  Federal  Gov- 
ernment, in  cooperation  with  State  and  local  organizations,  report 
that  during  the  six  months'  period  from  January  1  to  June  30,  1919, 


AKIZO]SrA.  15 

12,961  persons  were  registered  who  were  seeking  employment;  13,912 
requests  for  employees  were  received ;  and  7,801  persons  were  placed 
by  these  offices. — [Compiled  from  statistics  furnished  by  U.  S.  Em- 
ployment Service,  Aug.  8,  1919.] 

Tlie  War  and  Navy  Departments'  citation  has  been  issued  to  364 
firms  in  Arizona,  these  employers  having  assured  the  War  and 
Navy  Departments  that  they  will  reemploy  everybody  who  formerly 
worked  with  them  and  left  to  serve  in  the  Army  or  Navy  during 
the  World  War. — [Memorandum  from  assistant  to  the  Secretary  of 
War  in  the  replacement  of  service  men  to  civil  life,  to  U.  S.  Council 
of  National  Defense,  Nov.  20,  1919.] 
Highways. 

The  State  engineer  advises  that  if  all  the  road  appropriation  bills 
become  laws,  there  will  be  available  for  highway  purposes  for  the 
fiscal  year  beginning  July  next  approximately  $1,750,000.  In  ad- 
dition, there  are  almost  $1,000,000  of  Federal-aid  funds  available 
immediately,  and  $1,300,000  the  next  fiscal  year,  or  a  total  of 
$2,300,000  up  to  July  1,  1920.  The  State  will  have  the  funds  to 
match  the  Federal  funds,  but  the  various  counties  will  be  glad  to 
double  their  road  funds  by  securing  Federal  assistance.  It  is  ex- 
pected that  more  requests  from  the  counties  for  F'ederal  assistance 
will  be  made  than  can  be  allotted.  No  Federal  funds  will  be  lost 
to  the  State.  Probably  more  than  $3,500,000  will  be  expended  on 
road  construction  through  the  coming  year. — [Bulletin  No.  48,  High- 
ways Transport  Committee,  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense.] 

An  act,  approved  March  7,  appropriates  $200,000  to  be  expended 
under  the  same  provisions  as  the  State  road  fund  in  cooperation  with 
the  Bureau  of  Public  Roads. — [Laws  of  Arizona,  1919,  ch.  72.] 

A  $20,000,000  road  bond  issue  approved  by  the  legislature  was 
vetoed  by  the  governor. — [Statement  prepared  by  Bureau  of  Public 
Eoads,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture,  July  1, 1919.] 

On  October  1,  1919,  15  highway  projects  had  been  approved  in 
the  State,  involving  the  improvement  of  141.20  miles  of  road  at  a 
total  estimated  cost  of  $1,929,308.15,  of  which  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment is  requested  to  pay  $935,026.02  in  accordance  with  the  provisions 
of  the  Federal-aid  road  act  of  July  11,  1916,  as  amended  by  the  act 
of  February  28,  1919. —  [Statement  prepared  by  Bureau  of  Public 
Roads,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture.] 
Information  Service  for  Returned  Service  Men. 

The  local  branches  of  the  American  Red  Cross  are  cooperating 
with  other  organizations  in  establishing  contacts  with  service  men  for 
the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  adjustment  of  their  allotments, 
allowance  accounts,  compensation  and  claims,  and  the  reinstatement 
of  lapsed  or  canceled  insurance.    It  is  the  desire  of  the  Bureau  of 


16  UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  EECONSTRUCTION. 

War  Eisk  Insurance  that  all  inquiries  of  this  nature  be  cleared 
through  the  home-service  sections  of  the  American  Red  Cross.  Up  to 
April  1,  1919,  the  American  Red  Cross  had  organized  in  Arizona 
27  units  with  a  total  of  64  workers. — [Statement  prepared  by 
American  National  Red  Cross  for  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
November,  1919.] 
Land  Settlement. 

An  act  was  approved  March  21,  providing  for  cooperation  be- 
tween the  Federal  Government  and  the  State  of  Arizona  in  the 
settlement  of  soldiers,  sailors,  marines,  and  others  upon  farms  and 
farm-laborer  allotments  in  the  reclamation  and  improvement  of 
such  farms  and  allotments;  and  creating  a  soldier-settlement  board. 
The  basis  of  cooperation  with  the  agencies  of  the  United  States  is 
that  the  State  shall  provide  the  land  needed  for  settlement  and  the 
United  States  shall  meet  the  expense  of  reclamation  and  subdivision, 
the  State  to  make  actual  expenditures  not  to  exceed  25  per  cent  of 
the  total  purchase  price  and  cost  of  reclamation  and  improvement. 
No  farm,  unimproved,  may  exceed  $8,000  in  value,  and  no  farm- 
laborer  allotment  to  exceed  $1,000  in  value. — [Laws  of  Arizona,  1919, 
ch.  141.] 
Public  Works. 

Reports  received  in  January,  1919,  cover  25  public  building  and 
construction  projects  which  were  under  Avay  or  contemplated  in  the 
State,  aggregating  an  estimated  value  of  $7,830,000.  Of  this  number 
13  were  street  improvements,  estimated  to  cost  $4,880,000;  3  Avere 
schools,  estimated  to  cost  $290,000 ;  3  were  sewers,  estimated  to  cost 
$600,000;  and  2  were  waterworks,  estimated  to  cost  $1,000,000.— 
[Statistics  compiled  by  Division  of  Public  Works  and  Construction 
Developments,  U.  S.  Dept.  Labor,  Apr.  17,  1919.] 
School  Gardens. 

School  gardens  are  being  conducted  in  7  cities  and  towns,  the  total 
present  enrollment  in  the  State  being  1,351.  In  Tucson  during  the 
season  of  1919  there  w^ere  500  children  enrolled. — [Prepared  from 
material  furnished  by  U.  S.  School  Garden  Army  to  U.  S.  Council  of 
National  Defense,  Nov.  1,  1919.] 
Vocational  Reeducation  of  Disabled  Service  Men. 

In  accordance  with  section  2  of  the  Federal  vocational  rehabili- 
tation act  of  June  27,  1918,  as  amended  Jvdy  11,  1919,  arrangements 
had  been  made  up  to  October  25,  1919,  by  the  Federal  Board  for 
Vocational  Education  with  an  educational  institution  in  the  State 
for  the  reeducation  of  service  men  to  overcome  the  handicap  of  dis- 
abilities incurred  in  the  service.  A  total  of  28  such  men  have  been 
sent  to  this  institution  for  training.  Arrangements  have  also  been 
made  by  this  board  with  two  industrial  establishments  in  the  State 


ARKANSAS.  17 

whereby  the  hitter  have  undertaken  to  train  two  disabled  men. — 
[Compiled   from   statement   prepared  by   Eehabilitation   Division, 
Federal  Board  for  Vocational  Education.] 
Water  Resources. 

An  act  creating  an  Arizona  Resources  Board  was  approved  March 
17.  This  board  consists  of  five  members  appointed  by  the  gov- 
ernor and  is  charged  with  the  duty  of  investigating  the  water  re- 
sources and  preparing  comprehensive  plans  for  the  development,  con- 
servation, control,  regulation,  and  utilization  of  all  water  resources 
in  the  State. — [LaAvs  of  Arizona,  1919,  ch.  81.] 

ARKANSAS. 

Council  of  Defense. 

A  bill  is  pending  before  the  legislature  to  make  the  State  council 
of  defense  a  permanent  organization.  It  provides  that  the  council 
shall  insure  effective  means  of  defense,  preserve  order  within  the 
State,  provide  for  the  development  of  the  agricultural  and  industrial 
products  of  the  State,  and  aid  in  the  development  of  the  natural  re- 
sources. If  this  becomes  a  law,  a  permanent  community  council  or- 
ganization will  be  effected. — [Reply  from  State  council  of  defense  to 
questionnaire  of  the  Field  Division,  U.  S.  Council  of  National 
Defense,  Feb.  20,  1919.] 

The  State  council  of  defense  has  been  interested  in  furthering  re- 
construction activities  to  the  end  that  the  State  may  be  restored  to  a 
peace  basis  as  soon  as  possible,  and  that  such  matters  as  have  been 
brought  to  the  attention  of  the  council  may  be  promptly  acted  upon. 
The  council  is  still  maintaining  an  office  and  will  continue  its  activi- 
ties, pending  the  closing  of  some  of  the  projects  upon  which  it  has 
been  engaged. — [Letter  from  State  council  of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council 
of  National  Defense,  May  14,  1919.] 

The  State  council  of  defense  meets  upon  call  of  the  chairman,  and 
although  a  bill  to  make  the  council  statutory  failed  to  pass,  it  con- 
tinues in  order  to  complete  some  projects  in  which  the  State  is  en- 
gaged. County  councils  continue,  subject  to  call,  although  com- 
munity councils  are  believed  to  have  ceased  to  function.  The  councils 
of  defense  are  giving  financial  aid  to  the  United  States  Employment 
Service  and  are  apprehending  deserters. — [Reply  from  State  council 
of  defense  to  questionnaire  of  the  Field  Division,  U.  S.  Council  of 
National  Defense,  June  23,  1919.] 

Eirployment. 

Arkansas  has  reported  the  complete  organization  of  community 

bureaus  for  returning  soldiers,  sailors,  and  war  workers,  the  w^ork 

being  under  way  in  the  75  counties.    They  were  established  jointly 

by  the  State  and  county  officials  of  the  Federal  employment  service 

134286"— 20 2 


18  UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT   AND  EECONSTRUCTION. 

and  the  State  council  of  defense,  within  48  hours  after  telegraphic  in- 
structions from  Washington.  In  each  instance  the  bureau  is  located 
in  a  county  courthouse  or  city  hall,  and  the  county  chairman  of  the 
council  of  defense  is  serving  as  bureau  manager,  being  appointed  as 
agent  of  the  Federal  employment  service  at  a  salary  of  $1  per  an- 
num.—  [Times-Union,  Jacksonville,  Fla.,  Dec.  15,  1918.] 

Prior  to  the  signing  of  the  armistice  the  "  Farmers-give-a-bushel " 
war  fund,  which  was  indorsed  by  the  State  council  of  defense,  ag- 
gregated about  $45,000.  This  money  is  now  available  for  assisting 
returned  soldiers  and  sailors  to  establish  themselves  satisfactorily  in 
civil  life,  and  will  be  disbursed  by  trustees  for  that  purpose.  The 
State  council  of  defense  has  been  financing  the  work  of  the  United 
States  Employment  Service  in  Little  Eock  since  the  failure  of  the 
Federal  appropriation  for  that  service.  As  a  result  of  this  assistance 
the  State  dii'ector  of  the  United  States  Employment  Service  has  been 
able  to  keep  his  force  practically  intact  and  to  maintain  the  various 
offices  over  the  State.  Oreat  assistance  to  this  work  has  also  been 
rendered  by  the  local  councils  of  defense  and  by  coimiaercial  organiza- 
tions in  the  various  counties.  As  a  result  of  tliis  work  practically 
every  returned  soldier  and  sailor  of  tlie  State  has  been  given  employ- 
ment as  good  as  or  better  than  that  he  left  when  he  entered  the  serv- 
ice.— [Letter  from  State  council  of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of  Na- 
tional Defense,  May  14,  1019.] 

Employment  offices  maintained  in  Arlvansas  by  the  Federal  Gov- 
ernment in  cooperation  with  State  and  local  organizations,  report 
that  during  the  six  months'  period  from  January  1  to  June  30,  1919, 
38,147  persons  were  registered  who  were  seeking  emplo3'ment; 
52,5{)3  requests  for  employees  were  received ;  and  28,500  persons  were 
placed  by  these  offices. — [Compiled  from  statistics  furnished  b}^  U. 
S.  Employment  Service,  Aug.  8,  1919.] 

The  War  and  Navy  Departments'  citation  has  been  issued  to  Gl 
fii'ms  in  Arkansas,  these  employers  having  assured  the  War  and 
Navy  Departments  that  they  will  reemploy  everybody  who  formerly 
worked  with  them  and  left  to  serve  in  the  Army  or  Navy  during 
the  World  War. — [Memorandum  from  as'sistant  to  the  Secretary  of 
War  in  the  replacement  of  service  men  to  civil  life,  to  U.  S.  Council 
of  National  Defense,  Nov.  ^0,  1919.] 

In  Little  Rock  the  War  Camp  Community  Service  made  a  com- 
plete canvass  of  the  city,  and  5,000  lettere  were  sent  to  firms  and  cot- 
ton planters  in  the  vicinity  acquainting  them  with  the  fact  that  this 
organization  w^as  trying  to  secure  positions  for  soldiers.  By  this 
means  many  positions  were  secured  for  service  men. — [Eeport  of 
War  Camp  Community  Service  for  U.  S.  Council  of  National  De- 
fense, August,  1919.] 


ARKANSAS.  19 

Highways. 

The  secretary  of  the  State  highway  commission  advises  that 
provision  has  been  made  for  the  construction  of  about  5,000  miles 
of  hard-surface  road  by  the  creation  of  special  districts  by  the  legis- 
lature. Bonds  will  be  issued  by  these  districts,  based  on  property 
valued  to  the  amount  of  $35,000,000.  About  2,000  miles  have  been 
provided  for  by  the  creation  of  road  districts  by  petition.  About 
$15,000,000  in  bonds  will  be  issued  or  are  being  issued  by  these 
districts. — [Bulletin  No.  47,  Highways  Transport  Committee,  U.  S. 
Council  of  National  Defense.] 

The  'State  council  of  defense  has  been  working  in  conjunction 
with  a  connnittee  representing  the  Little  Rock  Board  of  Commerce 
in  the  interest  of  State  highway  projects.  The  various  road  dis- 
tricts created  by  the  last  session  of  the  legislature  are  now  actively 
engaged  in  the  preparation  of  plans  for  the  extension  and  improve- 
ment of  roads  throughout  tlie  State. — [Letter  from  State  council  of 
defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  May  14,  1019.] 

On  October  1,  1919,  22  highway  projects  had  been  approved  in  the 
State,  involving  the  improvement  of  369.19  miles  of  road  at  a  total 
estimated  cost  of  $4,350,373.55,  of  which  the  Federal  Government 
is  requested  to  pay  $947,116.59  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of 
the  Federal-aid  road  act  of  July  11,  191G,  as  amended  by  the  act  oi' 
February  28, 1919. — [Statement  prepared  by  Bureau  of  Public  Roads, 
U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture.] 

Information  Service  for  Returned  Service  Men. 

The  local  branches  of  the  American  Red  Cross  are  cooperating 
with  other  organizations  in  establishing  contacts  with  service  men 
for  the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  adjustment  of  their  allotments, 
allowance  accounts,  compensation  and  claims,  and  the  reinstatement 
of  lapsed  or  canceled  insurance.  It  is  the  desire  of  the  Bureau  of 
War  Risk  Insurance  that  all  inquiries  of  this  nature  be  cleared 
through  the  home-service  sections  of  the  American  Red  Cross.  Up 
to  April  1,  1919,  the  x\merican  Red  Cross  had  organized  in  Arkansas 
259  units  with  a  total  of  293  workers. — [Statement  prepared  by 
American  National  Red  Cross  for  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
November,  1919.] 
Land  Settlement. 

The  State  council  of  defense  has  a  standing  committee  of  11 
members,  appointed  by  the  governor,  who  have  been  actively  en- 
gaged in  securing  land  for  development  as  farms  for  soldiers,  in 
the  event  that  the  United  States  Department  of  the  Interior  soldier- 
settlement  plan  becomes  a  law.  This  committee  has  listed  over 
three  million  acres  of  land  and  blocked  it  into  possible  projects. 
Legal  options  have  been  secured  on  the  greater  part  of  this 'land; 


20  UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

and  while  the  faihire  of  the  last  session  of  Congress  to  pass  a  bill 
has  held  up  the  work  of  the  committee,  they  have  actually  inspected 
most  of  the  land  under  option  and  are  prepared  to  furnish  the 
Government  with  definite  and  accurate  information  in  regard 
thereto.  The  committee  has  sufficient  funds  for  this  use  set  aside 
for  the  purpose  by  the  State  council  of  defense,  and  it  will  continue 
in  existence  as  long  as  there  is  a  possibility  of  the  passage  of  a 
Federal  law  putting  the  plan  of  the  United  States  Department  of 
the  Interior  into  operation. — [Letter  from  State  council  of  defense 
to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  May  14,  1919.] 

The  legislature  passed  a  joint  resolution  urging  the  Arkansas 
congressional  delegation  to  do  everything  possible  for  Federal 
soldier-settlement  legislation,  and  that  the  governor  wire  President 
Wilson  urging  his  active  support  of  Federal  legislation.  The  gov- 
ernor has  appointed  a  committee  of  nine  members  to  represent  the 
State  in  soldier-settlement  matters. — [Memorandum  from  Eeclama- 
tion  Service,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  the  Interior  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National 
Defense,  July  1,  1919.] 
Public  Works. 

Reports  received  in  January,  1919,  cover  57  public  building  and 
construction  projects  which  were  under  way  or  contemplated  in  the 
State,  aggregating  an  estimated  value  of  $13,190,000.  Of  this  num- 
ber 36  w^ere  street  improvements,  estimated  to  cost  $8,300,000 ;  3  were 
schools,  estimated  to  cost  $85,000;  7  were  sewers,  estimated  to  cost 
$1,580,000;  and  7  were  waterworks,  estimated  to  cost  $465,000. — [Sta- 
tistics compiled  by  Division  of  Public  Works  and  Construction 
Developments,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor,  Apr.  17,  1919.] 
School  Gardens. 

School  gardens  are  being  conducted  in  79  cities  and  towns,  the  total 
present  enrollment  in  the  State  being  12,607.  In  Little  Rock  during 
the  season  of  1919  there  were  5,000  children  enrolled. — [Prepared 
from  material  furnished  by  U.  S.  School  Garden  Army  to  U.  S. 
Council  of  National  Defense,  Nov.  1,  1919.]     ' 

CALIFORNIA. 

Americanization. 

That  every  foreign-born  Californian,  who  has  been  honorably  dis- 
charged, after  applying  for  citizenship,  is  entitled  to  the  utmost  edu- 
cational aid  in  his  intention  to  be  an  intelligent  American,  is  the 
attitude  of  the  State  council  of  defense  as  recorded  in  a  letter  written 
for  guidance  of  county  divisions  and  community  branches  conferring 
and  working  with  the  council's  Army  and  Navy  placement  commit- 
tees.— [News  release  of  State  council  of  defense,  Jan.  18,  1919.] 

The  Independent  Order  of  B'nai  B'rith,  a  Hebrew  organization, 
has  outlined  a  program  for  the  thorough  Americanization  of  Hebrew 
immigrants.    Patriotic  meetings  are  to  be  held  at  intervals  through- 


CALIFORNIA.  21 

out  the  State,  at  which  the  true  doctrine  of  Americanization  will  be 
j)reached. — [Chronicle,  San  Francisco,  Calif.,  Feb.  18,  1919.] 

In  a  report  submitted  to  the  convention  of  the  State  building 
trades  council  in  Fresno,  the  committee  on  education  presented  a 
plan  for  the  Americanization  of  every  workman  in  the  industry  and 
the  general  use  of  the  extension  department  of  the  University  of 
California.  The  council  went  on  record  against  the  employment  of 
any  but  American  citizens  upon  Government  work  of  a  Federal, 
State,  or  municipal  character.  A  committee  was  appointed  to  sug- 
gest means  whereby  courses  might  be  arranged  by  the  extension  de- 
partment of  the  university  which  would  educate  members  of  the 
affiliated  unions  of  the  council  in  Americanism  and  in  general  cul- 
ture.—[Chronicle,  San  Francisco,  Calif.,  Mar.  30,  1919.] 

Under  an  act,  approved  May  27,  all  persons  over  18  and  under  21 
years  of  age  who  can  not  speak,  read,  or  write  the  English  language 
to  a  degree  of  proficiency  equal  to  that  required  for  the  completion 
of  the  sixth  grade  of  the  elementary  schools  of  the  State,  and  who 
live  within  a  radius  of  3  miles  of  an  evening  class  maintained  by  a 
high-school  district,  are  required  to  attend  for  at  least  four  hours  a 
week  a  specially  maintained  school  class  unless  otherwise  provided. — 
[Statutes  of  California,  1919,  ch.  506.] 

An  appropriation  of  $34,000  has  been  made  by  the  board  of  edu- 
cation of  Oakland  for  the  furtherance  of  Americanization  w^ork  dur- 
ing the  coming  fiscal  year.  Oakland  was  one  of  the  pioneer  cities  in 
Americanization  work  and  has  each  year  made  some  advance  in  the 
work.  Three  visiting  teachers  have  been  employed  to  canvass  the 
alien  districts  and  urge  the  attendance  of  every  alien,  especially  the 
mothers.  All  who  enroll  in  the  schools  are  urged  to  speak  only 
English  in  the  home,  and  many  are  endeavoring  to  do  this.  From 
many  parts  of  the  State  the  reports  indicate  an  increasing  interest 
on  the  part  of  the  teachers  and  pupils  alike.  In  the  case  of  female 
alien  pupils  the  response  is  much  greater  when  the  teacher  is  able  to 
visit  her  home,  not  in  a  patronizing  manner  but  in  a  neighborly 
fashion.  The  great  need  in  California  is  for  trained  teachers  who 
know  how  to  visit  satisfactorily  as  well  as  how  to  teach  effectively. 
At  Los  Angeles  the  council  of  defense  is  cooperating  in  every  way  to 
make  these  classes  a  success.  At  the  hearing  of  naturalization  peti- 
tions the  council  presented  each  successful  petitioner  with  a  booklet. 
The  American  Home,  and  a  silk  flag  of  the  United  States. — 
[Compiled  from  forthcoming  report  of  the  director  of  citizenship  to 
Commissioner  of  Naturalization,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor,  1920.] 
Assistance  for  Service  Men  and  Their  Families. 

The  governor  in  his  biennial  message  to  the  State  legislature  urged 
the  extension  of  every  desirable  form  of  aid  to  returning  soldiers  in 
close  cooperation  with  Federal  authorities.    The  restoration  of  the 


22  UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

disabled  and  the  oj)ening  of  extensive  emj)loyment  opportunities  on 
land  reclamation,  road  building,  and  irrigation  projects  were  par- 
ticularly stressed. — [Examiner,  San  Francisco,  Calif.,  Jan.  7,  1919.] 

One  of  the  newspapers  of  Los  Angeles  havS  established  a  soldiers' 
service  bureau.  Through  the  efforts  of  this  bureau  employment  is 
obtained  for  ex-service  men;  missing  men  are  located:  allotment 
cases  are  straightened  out ;  insurance  cases  are  investigated ;  and 
man}'  other  services  are  performed,  such  as  helping  service  men  to  ob- 
tain their  releases  by  preparing  necessary  affidavits,  defending  them 
in  court,  etc. — [Examiner,  Los  Angeles,  Calif.,  Mar.  18, 1919.] 

The  legal-aid  bureau  of  San  Francisco  gives  free  legal  advice  to  re- 
turned service  men. — [Telegram  from  State  committee  on  readjust- 
ment to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  2G,  1919.] 

An  act,  approved  May  2,  authorizes  the  board  of  supervisors  of 
any  county  in  the  State  to  grant  financial  assistance,  relief,  and  sup- 
port to  indigent  persons  who  have  been  honorably  discharged  from 
any  branch  of  the  United  States  Army  or  Navy,  or  the  American  Red 
Cross,  who  have  served  in  any  war  in  which  the  United  States  has 
been  engaged,  same  to  be  administered  through  private  organizations 
desiring  to  handle  the  work. — [Statutes  of  California,  1919,  ch.  184.] 
Committee  on  Readjustment. 

A  committee  on  soldiers'  employment  and  readjustment,  consist- 
ing of  nine  members  with  the  adjutant  general  of  the  State  as  chair- 
man, appointed  under  authority  of  an  act  of  the  State  legislature  ap- 
proved January  25,  1919,  held  its  first  meeting  on  February  8.  The 
act  provides  that  the  committee,  in  addition  to  devoting  its  energies 
to  the  unemployment  problem,  will  take  over  the  activities  of  its 
predecessor,  the  State  council  of  defense  which  terminated  its  activi- 
ties February  1.  Letters  have,  therefore,  been  sent  to  members  of 
the  58  county  divisions,  notifying  them  that  they  automatically  be- 
come county  divisions  of  the  new  committee,  and  that  their  officers, 
etc.,  are  part  of  the  State  committee.  The  State  committee  is  occu- 
pying the  offices  of  the  former  State  council  and  has  taken  over  the 
office  force,  as  well  as  all  activities  of  the  State  council  of  defense. 
It  is  believed  that  a  majority  of  the  counties  will  remain  intact  in 
their  war-time  organization.  Should  any  decline  to  do  so,  the  com- 
mittee will  at  once  appoint  a  new  county  personnel.  The  State  com- 
mittee desires  to  continue  friendly  relations  with  the  United  States 
Council  of  National  Defense. — [Letter  from  chairman,  Stat^  com- 
piittee  on  readjustment  to  Field  Division,  U.  S.  Council  of  National 
Defense,  Feb.  13,  1919.] 

The  new  State  committee  on  readjustment  has  determined  to  con- 
centrate on  placement  of  soldiers,  acceleration  of  allotments,  control 
cf  relief  collections,  and  Americanization;  but  is  now  giving  its 
whole  attention  to  placement.     The  committee  intends  to  operate 


CALIFORNIA.  23 

tliroiTgli  the  county  divisions  established  by  the  State  council  of 
defense.  Communications  have  been  addressed  to  all  mayors,  boards 
of  trustees,  chambers  of  commerce,  and  other  organizations,  request- 
ing them  to  meet  immediately  and  form  placement  or  readjustment 
committees;  utilizing  in  the  larger  centers  the  machinery  of  the 
United .  States  Employment  Service,  and  possibly  in  other  centers 
the  offices  of  the  chambers  of  commerce,  for  registering  applicants 
for  positions.  The  committee  is  working  out  for  each  individual 
community  the  quota  of  men  who  were  either  drafted  or  who  en- 
listed voluntarily,  which  will  be  published;  and  each  connnunity 
then  will  be  definitely  charged  to  put  itself  on  record  with  a  pledge 
that  it  will  at  least  accomiDlish  its  quota  in  placement.  A  plan  has 
been  adopted,  as  an  honor  system,  whereby  emploj^ers  Avill  indicate 
how^  they  are  doing  their  bit  by  attaching  a  red  circle  around 
each  blue  star  for  every  man  replaced.  Voluntary  benefits  for  dis- 
charged soldiers,  the  committee  urges,  should  be  discouraged  except 
where  authorized  by  disinterested  public-spirited  citizens  whose 
plans  have  received  the  definite  approval  of  the  war  donations 
department  of  the  committee.  It  is  stated  by  the  committee  that 
in  all  cases  wdiere  registration  of  applicants  for  positions  has  taken 
place  within  the  State  a  very  large  i)ercentage  of  men  have  been 
placed.  The  committee  will  urge  upon  all  communities  to  consider 
the  immediate  need  for  carrying  out  all  public-construction  enter- 
prises that  were  held  up  during  the  war.  An  important  matter  to 
which  the  committee  is  giving  attention  is  the  encouragement  among 
farmers  of  a  movement  to  provide  better  living  accommodations  for 
farm  labor,  and  to  this  end  it  is  to  cooperate  with  the  State  housing 
uiid  immigration  commission.  Based  on  the  fact  that  the  main 
products  of  California  are  likely  to  be  in  increasing  demand,  the 
committee  sounds  a  note  of  confidence  that  California  will  easily  take 
care  of  its  unemployment  problem;  and  suggests  that  this  note  be 
echoed  by  all  chambers  of  commerce,  clubs,  and  other  organizations. — 
[Letter  from  State  committee  on  readjustment  to  U.  S.  Council  of 
National  Defense,  Feb.  14,  1919.] 

The  State  committee  on  readjustment,  through  its  county  division 
chairman,  is  appointing  an  advisory  bureau  in  every  county.  This 
bureau  will  be  composed  of  the  former  chairman  of  the  State  division 
of  the  Woman's  Committee  of  the  United  States  Council  of  National 
Defense,  the  chairman  of  the  largest  unit  of  women's  activities,  the 
woman  Avho  had  charge  of  food  conservation,  and  such  other  public- 
spirited  women  as  are  interested  in  the  solution  of  the  State's  read- 
justment problems.  In  each  of  the  58  counties  it  will  act  as  a  clearing 
house  for  the  standardization  of  the  employment  situation  by  secur- 
ing intercommunity  and  intercounty  information.  This  information 
will  be  sent  to  the  State  committee  on  readjustment,  thus  providing 


24  UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

them  with  a  review  of  the  industrial  situation  throughout  the  State, 
so  they  will  readily  know  where  there  is  a  surplus  of  labor  and 
where  a  shortage  exists.  Men  seeking  jobs  can  then  be  sent  at  once 
to  places  where  work  is  available. — [News  release  of  State  commit- 
tee on  readjustment,  Apr.  13,  1919.] 

Since  its  appointment  by  the  governor  February  1,  1919,  following 
its  creation  by  senate  bill  330,  the  State  committee  on  readjustment 
has  performed  the  duties  provided  by  the  law  as  follows :  Stimulated 
by  publicity,  letters,  and  personal  contacts,  individuals  and  agencies 
in  the  State  to  assist  in  the  intelligent  placement  in  gainful  civil 
occupations  of  returning  members  of  the  military  and  naval  forces; 
and  assisted  the  discharged  service  men  and  their  dependents  to 
obtain  expeditiously  all  allotments  and  allowances  provided  by  the 
Government  for  the  protection  of  these  soldiers  and  the  maintenance 
of  their  dependents.  While  its  function  is  to  act  as  a  stimulator  to 
the  activities  of  others,  to  point  out  the  things  necessary  to  be  done 
and  the  proper  manner  to  do  them,  and  to  act  as  a  clearing  house 
for  the  dissemination  of  such  information  as  may  be  of  material  and 
practical  assistance  in  the  giving  of  aid  in  the  matter  of  claims  and 
the  facilitating  of  placement,  it  has,  nevertheless,  in  order  that  no 
applicant  for  assistance  might  go  away  dissatisfied,  at  its  central 
offices  taken  up  directly  with  Washington  the  case  of  every  service 
man  or  dependent  who  has  called  there;  and,  in  this  connection, 
approximately  7,000  specific  cases  including  every  conceivable  claim 
or  position  of  placement  has  been  attended  to  at  the  central  offices 
of  the  State  committee.  The  committee  offers  all  the  assistance  in 
its  power  not  only  to  claimants  but  also  to  those  riien  and  women  of 
the  State  who,  either  working  alone  or  as  members  of  agencies  and 
organizations,  are  conscientiously  trying  to  bring  about  satisfaction 
of  all  claims  arising  out  of  the  war  and  placement  of  all  men  who 
left  civil  life  to  join  the  colors. — [Keadjustment,  San  Francisco, 
Calif.,  Oct.  10,  1919.] 
Community  Organization. 

Plans  are  being  made  for  the  continuance  of  the  community  coun- 
cils instituted  during  the  war  with  the  idea  of  placing  them  upon  a 
permanent  footing.  It  is  intended  to  have  each  of  the  approximately 
5,000  community  councils  frame  its  constitution  and  by-laws,  ap- 
point its  board  of  directors,  and  take  up  the  work  of  social  construc- 
tion. While  the  community  councils  will  be  sovereign  in  themselves, 
the  State  council  of  defense  will  supply  them  with  various  informa- 
tion, keeping  them  in  touch  with  all  important  State,  national,  and 
international  matters.  The  State  council  of  defense  will  also  help 
other  State  departments  to  keep  in  touch  with  the  different  com- 
munities and  to  be  of  more  help  to  them.    The  community  councils 


CALIFORNIA.  25 

would  be  called  upon  at  once  to  gather  information  regarding  un- 
employment and  the  opportunities  for  employment  for  returning 
soldiers.  Another  line  of  endeavor  will  be  that  of  Americanization. 
The  councils  will  not  discuss  politics,  religion,  and  such  controversial 
subjects  as  are  likely  to  induce  factional  strife. — [Christian  Science 
Monitor,  Boston,  Mass.,  Jan.  8,  1919.] 

Three  hundred  community  councils  have  been  organized  by  the 
State  council  of  defense.  All  of  the  councils  are  cooperating.  They 
are  encouraged  by  the  State  committee  on  readjustment  to  become 
permanent. — [Reply  from  State  council  of  defense  to  questionnaire 
of  the  Field  Division,  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  June  28, 
1919.] 
Council  of  Defense. 

The  State  council  of  defense  has  issued  two  pamphlets.  The  Com- 
munity and  the  Postwar  Problems,  and  Handbook  on  Community 
Organization.  The  former  is  mainly  inspirational  Avhile  the  lat- 
ter contains  some  practical  advice  on  the  permanent  organization  of 
community  councils  for  peace  time,  the  extension  of  their  activities, 
and  assurance  of  efficiency  for  their  operations. — [Survey,  New 
York,  N.  Y.,  March,  1919.] 

AVith  two  exceptions  all  of  the  county  divisions  of  the  former 
State  council  of  defense  have  accepted  reappointment  for  service 
with  the  State  committee  on  readjustment  in  response  to  the  invi- 
tation of  that  body.  They  will  aid  particularly  in  the  placement  in 
industry  of  returning  soldiers  and  sailors. — [Bulletin,  San  Fran- 
cisco, Calif.,  Mar.  17,  1919.] 

One  hundred  and  seventy-one  placement  bureaus  for  discharged 
soldiers  have  been  established  by  the  State  council.  The  council  is 
continuing  the  apprehension  of  deserters.  Permanent  agencies  have 
taken  over  the  following  former  activities  of  the  State  council: 
IWoman's  committee,  farm  bureaus,  war  history,  scientific  research, 
war  donations,  and  children's  committee.  The  State  committee  on 
readjustment  is  attempting  to  coordinate  all  reconstruction  activi- 
ties. Plans  are  being  formulated  for  an  Americanization  program. — 
[Reply  from  State  council  of  defense  to  questionnaire  of  the  Field 
Division,  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  June  28,  1919.] 
Cooperative  Distribution. 

Fruit  and  vegtable  growers  of  the  State  have  formed  a  cooperative 
organization  to  eliminate  middle  profits,  broaden  markets,  and  af- 
filiate with  similar  organizations  throughout  the  world.  Twenty-six 
canneries  in  various  parts  of  the  State  wdll  pool  their  interests  in  a 
$6,000,000  corporation  and  launch  a  campaign  for  foreign  trade. 
Goods  will  be  sold  through  such  organizations  as  the  consumers' 
league.--[Chronicle,  San  Francisco,  Calif.,  Mar.  6,  1919.] 


26  UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

Certification  of  Public  Records  for  War  Risk  Insurance. 

The  State  committee  on  readjustment  is  urging  the  State  legisla- 
ture to  pass  senate  bill  485,  which  provides  for  free  certification  of 
public  records  in  connection  with  war-risk  insurance  cases;  or  fur- 
nishing of  a  verified  copy  of  the  public  record  of  a  marriage,  death, 
birth,  or  divorce  in  making  search  for  same,  when  it  is  to  be  used  in 
a  claim  for  pension,  a  claim  for  allotment,  allowance,  compensation, 
insurance,  or  otherwise  under  the  Federal  act  establishing  a  Bureau 
of  War  Eisk  Insurance. — [News  release  of  State  committee  on  re- 
adjustment. Mar.  25,  1919.] 

Employment. 

Under  a  resolution  of  the  legislature,  filed  with  the  secretary  of 
state  January  25,  it  is  directed  that  the  speaker  of  the  assembly  and 
the  president  of  the  senate  each  appoint  four  members  to  act  as 
a  committee  of  the  legislature,  to  investigate  matters  pertaining  to 
the  employment  situation  created  by  demobilization  of  the  military 
forces  and  to  recommend  to  the  legislature,  upon  reconvening  after 
the  constitutional  recess,  some  appropriate  legislative  action  for  the 
relief  of  the  disturbing  conditions. — [Statutes  of  California,  1919, 
ch.  19.] 

The  appointment  of  the  State  committee  on  soldiers'  employment 
and  readjustment,  to  assist  in  securing  employment  for  service  men, 
was  announced  on  February  4,  by  the  governor. — [Examiner,  San 
Francisco,  Calif.,  Feb.  5,  1919.] 

Assembly  bill  80  authorizes  the  commissioner  of  labor  to  establish 
employment  bureaus  and  fixes  the  fees  to  be  charged,  the  same  to  be 
paid  into  the  employment  bureau  fund.  The  bill  contemplates  tho 
appropriation  of  $150,000  for  the  purpose.  Senate  bill  192  authorizes 
an  appropriation  of  $92,500  for  maintaining  free  employment  offices 
for  the  next  two  years. — [Letter  from  State  librarian  to  U.  S.  Com- 
mission of  Labor  Statistics,  Feb.  19,  1919.] 

Free  State  employment  bureaus  are  established  in  all  of  the  princi- 
pal cities  of  the  State,  which  for  some  time  have  been  coordinating 
with  the  Federal  bureau  in  solving  the  employment  problem.  It  is 
believed  that  these  bureaus  will  be  able  to  assume  the  added  burden 
caused  by  the  partial  abandonment  of  the  Federal  service. — [Letter 
from  office  of  the  governor  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
Mar.  19,  1919.] 

Fifty  out  of  fifty-eight  counties  of  the  State  report  to  the  State 
committee  on  readjustment  100  per  cent  organizations  for  aiding  the 
placement  of  returning  men.  Each  county  is  making  arrangements 
to  take  care  of  its  own  quota. — [Telegram  from  chairman,  State  com- 
mittee on  readjustment  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar, 
25,  1919.] 


CALIFORNIA.  27 

The  State  committee  on  readjustment  has  practically  completed 
its  organization  to  aid  returning  soldiers  and  sailors  in  finding 
satisfactory  civil  employment.  Placement  committees  have  been 
appointed  and  placement  bureaus  have  been  organized  in  munici- 
palities and  communities  throughout  the  State  and  are  engaged 
in  the  twofold  duty  of  assisting  men  from  the  service  to  find  work 
and  stimulating  the  development  of  industry  and  construction  for 
the  creation  of  new  jobs,  so  that  tlje  men  and  women  who  are  dis- 
placed by  the  replacement  of  soldiers  and  sailors  will  have  employ- 
ment.— [News  release  of  State  committee  on  readjustment,  Mar.  26, 
1919.] 

The  program  committee  of  the  State  committee  on  readjustment 
recommends  that  attention  be  given  not  only  to  the  employment  of 
discharged  service  men,  but  also  to  the  employment  of  discharged 
civilian  war  workers,  the  employment  of  women  whose  places  are 
being  taken  by  men,  and  the  emplojmient  of  service  men  who  are 
too  incapacitated  to  resume  their  former  employment.  To  this  end  it 
is  recommended  that  an  advisory  committee  on  employment  bo 
created,  composed  of  representatives  of  the  State  welfare  commission, 
the  State  housing  and  immigration  commission,  the  Federal  Board 
for  Vocational  Education,  the  American  Red  Cross,  the  State  com- 
missioner of  labor  and  the  State  director  of  the  United  States  Em- 
ployment Service. — [Report  of  State  committee  on  readjustment  to 
U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  31,  1919.] 

The  State  committee  on  readjustment  has  arranged  to  hereafter 
receive  the  name,  residence,  and  occupation  of  each  California  man 
in  each  regiment  as  it  is  due  for  demobilization  either  in  the  camps 
in  this  country  or  upon  its  arrival  from  overseas.  This  informa- 
tion will  be  sent  to  the  various  placement  bureaus  througliout  the 
State  to  aid  in  placing  the  men. — [News  release  of  State  committee 
on  readjustment,  Aj)r.  3,  1919.] 

The  State  committee  on  readjustment  is  sending  out  the  names, 
addresses,  and  civil  vocations  of  1,800  California  boys  returning  from 
service.  The  names  are  listed  at  the  placement  bureaus  of  the  com- 
mittee throughout  the  State. — [News  release  of  State  committee  on 
readjustment,  Apr.  15,  1919.] 

The  State  committee  on  readjustment  has  been  able  to  substantially 
aid  the  various  pacement  bureaus  throughout  the  State  by  obtaining 
full  lists  of  Californian  soldiers  immediately  upon  their  landing  in 
New  York  City.  They  segregate  the  names  by  counties  and  rush 
them  to  the  newspapers  and  county  placement  bureaus,  so  that  each 
community  knows  in  advance  of  the  men's  arrival  what  may  be 
the  demands  on  their  services  in  helping  to  get  jobs. — [Letter  from 
State  committee  on  readjustment  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  De- 
fense, Apr.  19,  1919.] 


28  UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

To  provide  employment  for  returning  soldiers  and  sailors,  the 
State  committee  on  readjustment  has  established  placement  bureaus 
throughout  California.  The  committee,  as  a  means  for  better  service 
and  a  more  sympathetic  understanding  of  the  mental  reaction  of  the 
returned  service  men,  has  appointed  upon  each  of  these  placement 
bureaus  one  or  more  returned  service  men.  As  a  result  of  this  work 
by  the  State  committee  on  readjustment,  reports  indicate  that  in- 
stead of  the  expected  labor  surplus  due  to  demobilization,  the  State 
is  actually  facing  a  shortage  in  labor  supply. — [News  release  of  State 
committee  on  readjustment,  May  1,  1919.] 

There  are  260  placement  bureaus  of  the  State  committee  on  read- 
justment located  throughout  the  58  counties  in  the  State,  and  all  a 
service  man  needs  to  do  is  to  apply  to  any  of  these  and  he  will  secure 
employment  as  good,  if  not  better,  than  he  had  previous  to  his  enter- 
ing the  service. — [News  release  of  State  committee  on  readjustment, 
May  23,  1919.] 

Under  an  act,  approved  May  23,  the  sum  of  $150,000  was  appro- 
priated for  the  support  of  the  State  bureau  of  labor  statistics  in 
meeting  the  expenses  of  maintaining  free  employment  bureaus  for  a 
period  of  two  years. — [Statutes  of  California,  1919,  ch.  441.] 

The  State  committee  on  readjustment,  carrying  out  the  wishes  of 
the  governor,  evolved  a  plan  to  bridge  over  the  interval  until  a 
reclamation  bill  is  passed,  which  will  put  the  Army  and  Navy  young 
men  on  the  road  to  successful  farming.  Through  the  county  division 
chairmen  of  this  committee  and  the  chairmen  of  the  placement 
bureaus,  the  State  committee  has  found  a  very  effective,  practical, 
and  remunerative  method  of  starting  all  service  men  who  truly  de- 
sire to  become  farmers  and  own  land,  to  acquire  theoretical  and 
practical  knowledge  of  farming  through  the  cooperation  of  the 
farmers  in  placing  these  men,  paying  them  for  their  work,  and 
housing  them  in  the  best  possible  way,  thus  giving  them  the  oppor- 
tunity of  gaining  a  thorough  advance  knowledge  that  will  place 
them  in  the  position  of  being  able  to  know  and  understand  the 
practical  side  of  farming,  before  the  various  plans  for  land  settle- 
ment for  soldiers  become  operative. — [Letter  from  State  committee 
on  readjustment  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  May  27, 
1919.] 

As  the  clearing  house  for  approximately  200  placement  bureaus 
dealing  solely  with  the  soldier-placement  problem,  the  State  com- 
mittee on  readjustment  will  cooperate  with  the  State  highway 
commission  in  placing  service  men  through  their  local  placement 
bureaus,  and  will,  in  so  far  as  possible,  endeavor  to  standardize  the 
employment  situation  so  that  the  percentage  of  men  from  each 
locality  employed  on  the  State  highway  divisions  throughout  the 


CALIFORNIA.  29 

State  will  be  in  proportion  to  the  unemployed  surplus  in  each  com- 
munity.— [Readjustment,  San  Francisco,  Calif.,  Aug.  1,  1919.] 

Employment  offices  maintained  in  California  by  the  Federal  Gov- 
ernment in  cooperation  with  State  and  local  organizations,  report 
that  during  the  six  months'  period  from  January  1  to  June  30,  1919, 
146,196  persons  were  registered  who  were  seeking  employment; 
152,240  requests  for  employees  were  received;  and  121,163  persons 
were  placed  by  these  offices. — [Compiled  from  statistics  furnished  by 
U.  S.  Employment  Service,  Aug.  8,  1919.] 

Citations  have  been  issued  by  the  United  States  War  and  Navy 
Departments  to  3,284  firms  in  the  State,  these  employers  having 
assured  the  departments  that  they  will  reemploy  every  returned 
service  man  who  formerly  worked  for  them  and  left  to  serve  in  the 
Army  or  Navy  during  the  World  War. — [Memorandum  from  assist- 
ant to  the  Secretary  of  War  in  the  replacement  of  service  men  to 
civil  life,  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Nov.  20, 1919.] 

For  the  purpose  of  finding  employment  for  soldiers  the  Arbuckle 
College  city  community  service  branch  was  organized.  Every 
Arbuckle  soldier  or  sailor  who  has  returned  has  been  given  his  old 
job  or  has  received  a  new  one.  Many  men  from  different  parts  of 
the  State  have  received  work  here  through  this  organization. — 
[Union,  Sacramento,  Calif.,  Mar.  19,  1919.] 

The  musical  organization  of  the  Liberty  Club  of  Los  Angeles  has 
completed  plans  whereby  it  proposes  to  obtain  jobs  for  returning 
musicians  who  have  been  in  war  service.  Forty  soldier-musicians 
have  already  been  given  jobs  through  the  club's  efforts.  The  service 
of  the  club  is  free. — [Express,  Los  Angeles,  Calif.,  Mar.  10,  1919.] 

The  Los  Angeles  Chamber  of  Commerce  is  actively  making  pro- 
vision for  employment  of  soldiers  and  sailors.  A  committee  ap- 
pointed by  the  mayor,  which  is  representative  of  employers  and 
employees,  investigates  matters  pertaining  to  the  employment  situ- 
ation in  Los  Angeles.  The  city  is  in  excellent  condition  to  provide 
for  returning  Los  Angeles  soldiers  and  will  do  all  in  its  power  to 
care  for  those  from  other  localities. — [Telegram  from  mayor  of  Los 
Angeles  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  25,  1919.] 

Opportunities  for  employment  in  Plumas  County,  it  is  announced, 
will  be  many  this  spring  and  summer.  A  number  of  large  lumber- 
ing concerns  are  now  seeking  crews  for  work  in  the  woods  and  at 
the  mills.  Camp  and  mill  superintendents  who  have  been  ap- 
proached on  the  subject  of  preferential  employment  for  discharged 
soldiers  and  sailors,  have  been  unanimous  in  stating  their  desire  to 
place  every  discharged  man  who  applies  for  employment.  Con- 
templated building  projects  and  road  construction  will  also  furnish 
employment  for  ex-soldiers. — [Bee,  Sacramento,  Calif.,  Mar.  13, 
1919.] 


80  UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

The  San  Francisco  Chamber  of  Commerce  is  sending  ont  circuhirs 
to  employers  for  the  purpose  of  locating  employment  for  disabled 
soldiers  and  sailors  after  they  have  been  given  vocational  training 
by  the  Government. — [Chronicle,  San  Francisco,  Calif.,  Oct.  28, 
1918.] 

An  engineers'  service  bureau  has  been  established  in  San  Francisco 
which  is  intended  to  serve  as  a  clearing  house  through  which  engi- 
neers in  search'  of  employment  may  get  in  touch  with  prospective 
employers,  and  through  which  employers  may  find  technical  men 
promptly  as  they  are  needed.  This  bureau  is  being  conducted  at 
the  San  Francisco  Engineers'  Club  through  the  joint  council  of  the 
San  Francisco  engineering  societies.  In  this  organization  are  rep- 
resented the  local  sections  of  the  American  Society  of  Civil  Engi- 
neers, the  American  Society  of  Mechanical  Engineers,  the  American 
Society  of  Mining  Engineers,  and  the  American  Chemical  Society. — 
[Engineering  News-Eecord,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  16,  1910.] 

The  Independent  Order  of  B'nai  B'rith,  a  Hebrew  organization, 
will  establish  a  soldiers'  employment  bureau  in  San  Francisco.  A 
committee  will  be  appointed  to  aid  in  replacing  soldiers  in  their 
former  positions  or  in  finding  new  employment  for  them. — [Chroni- 
cle, San  Francisco,  Calif.,  Feb.  18,  1919.]^ 

In  view  of  the  curtailment  of  the  operations  of  the  United  States 
Employment  Service,  the  city  of  San  Francisco  will  cooperate  to  the 
fullest  extent  with  the  emergency  committee  on  employment.  The 
mayor  is  taking  up  the  matter  with  the  finance  committee  of  the 
board  of  supervisors  in  order  that  arrangements  may  be  made  for 
the  payment  of  necessary  expenses. — [Letter  from  mayor  of  San 
Francisco  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar,  15,  1919.] 

Various  activities  are  being  conducted  in  San  Francisco  for  the 
benefit  of  returning  soldiers.  A  soldiers'  welfare  committee  has  been 
established  which  is  charged  with  the  duty  of  assisting  in  obtaining 
employment  for  returned  service  men.  The  community  placement 
bureau  and  the  employment  service  of  the  American  Red  Cross  are 
also  engaged  in  this  work,  the  former  bureau  being  operated  through 
the  cooperation  of  the  War  Camp  Community  Service,  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association,  Jewish  Welfare  Board,  and  certain  citizens 
of  San  Francisco. — [Telegram  from  State  committee  on  readjust- 
ment to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  26,  1919.] 

The  labor  council  and  the  building-trades  council  are  to  cooperate 
with  the  Federal  employment  service  in  San  Francisco  in  obtaining 
work  for  rx^turned  soldiers  and  sailors. — [Chronicle,  San  Francisco, 
Calif.,  Mar.  30,  1919.] 

It  is  announced  that  there  is  little  or  no  trouble  for  all  returning 
soldiers  to  find  employment  in  Shasta  County  at  fairly  remunerati^'e 
wages.    In  nearly  every  instance  employers  are  giving  the  soldiers 


CALIFORNIA.  .31 

their  old  jobs.  This  custom  is  obser\'Gd.  alike  by  mining  companies, 
merchants,  farmers,  bankers,  stockmen,  and  all  leading  employers 
of  labor.  There  are  two  large  industrial  enterprises  that  demand  at 
once  a  number  of  laborers,  some  of  them  skilled.  The  Happy  Valley 
irrigation  district  awarded  two  construction  contracts  aggregating 
$315,000.  A  second  large  contract  involves  the  expenditure  of 
$186,000.  Preference  will  be  given  to  discharged  service  men  in  both 
of  these  pieces  of  work.  In  view^  of  the  bright  outlook  for  good  crops 
in  Shasta  County  many  laborers  are  also  needed  on  the  farms. — [Bee, 
Sacramento,  Calif.,  Mar.  13,  1919.] 

rood  Control. 

Among  the  important  bills  relating  to  food  introduced  in  the 
State  legislature  are  the  folloAving:  Senate  bill  19  providing  for  the 
fixing  of  the  price  of  foodstuffs  in  times  of  emergency  by  the  rail- 
road commission;  and  assembly  bill  591  creating  a  bureau  of  food 
administration  in  charge  of  the  superintendent  of  weights  and 
measures,  who  shall  have  power  to  investigate  and  regulate  the 
manufacture,  production,  and  distribution  of  foodstuffs. — [National 
Wholesale  Grocers'  Association  Bulletin,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  March, 
1919.] 

A  State  commission  created  by  a  resolution  of  the  legislature  to 
inquire  into  the  reasons  for  the  excessive  costs  of  foodstuffs  has 
recently  rendered  its  formal  report.  Its  chief  remedies  proposed  are 
compulsory  licensing,  with  withdrawal  as  the  penalty  of  offending; 
and  a  law  preventing  unnecessary  reselling  of  food  in  its  journey 
between  producer  and  consumer.  Statistics  on  the  cost  of  foodstuffs 
are  given. — [Journal  of  Commerce,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Apr.  28,  1919.  ] 

The  investigation  of  the  high  prices  of  bread,  milk,  eggs,  and  other 
food  products  by  a  legislatiA'e  commission  has  brought  from  that 
body  a  recommendation  that  the  business  of  distributing  certain 
foods  be  regarded  as  a  public  utility  and  thus  come  under  the  regu- 
lation of  the  State  public  utilities  commission,  which  body  in  this 
State  is  the  railroad  commission. — [Christian  Science  Monitor,  Bos- 
ton, Mass.,  May  12,  1919.] 

An  act,  approved  May  5,  places  food  warehousemen  under  the 
control  and  regulation  of  the  railroad  commission  of  the  State. — 
[Statutes  of  California,  1919,  ch.  21.] 

Foreign  Trade. 

One  of  the  outstanding  features  of  the  program  outlined  by  the 
State  committee  on  readjustment,  in  its  report  to  the  governor,  was 
the  emphasis  put  upon  California's  future  resting  in  its  ability  to 
become  an  integral  factor  in  foreign  trade.  It  was  asked  that  imme- 
diate steps  be  taken  to  eliminate  discriminatory  rates  both  by  the 
United  States  Railroad  Administration  and  the  United  States  Ship- 


32  UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  EECONSTRUCTION. 

ping  Board,  and  that  the  prewar  import  and  export  rates  so  essen- 
tial to  the  development  of  foreign  trade  through  San  Francisco  be 
restored. — [News  release  of  State  committee  on  readjustment,  Apr. 
8,  1919.] 

In  order  to  stimulate  trade  expansion  and  to  study  the  foreign- 
trade  situation,  the  Los  Angeles  Chamber  of  Commerce  has  organ- 
ized a  foreign-trade  club  with  a  membership  of  more  than  TOO.  Ex- 
perts on  commerce  in  foreign  lands  will  be  obtained  to  address  the 
club,  and  classes  w411  be  organized  for  the  study  of  special  branches 
of  foreign  trade. — [Letter  from  Los  Angeles  Chamber  of  Commerce 
to  Chamber  of  Commerce  of  U.  S.  A.,  Dec.  IT,  1918.] 
Highways. 

The  State  highway  engineer  advises  that  the  Legislature  of  Cali- 
fornia, now  in  session,  is  expected  to  submit  to  the  people  for  adoption 
a  third  State  highway  bond  issue  to  the  amount  of  $20,000,000. 
California  has  had  two  previous  State  highway  bond  issues,  one 
amounting  to  $18,000,000,  and  the  other  to  $15,000,000.  There  is  a 
residue  of  several  million  dollars  of  the  proceeds  of  the  second  State 
highway  bond  issue  yet  to  be  expended. — [Bulletin  No.  48,  Highways 
Transport  Committee,  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense.] 

A  TO-mile  concrete  highway  from  Merced  to  Yosemite  is  proposed 
by  the  Yosemite  Valley  Highway  Association,  at  a  cost  of  $1,T00,000, 
The  sum  of  $T00,000  toward  the  highway  is  now  on  hand.  The 
California  State  Automobile  Association  promises  to  support  the 
measure.  California  motorists  will  be  asked  to  subscribe  $1,000,000. 
In  return  for  $5,  autoists  will  receive  free  automobile  permits  to  the 
Yosemite  Park  from  the  Government. — [Chronicle,  San  Francisco, 
Calif.,  Mar.  5,  1919.] 

The  advisory  board  of  the  State  engineering  department  recently 
approved  a  resolution  of  the  board  of  directors  of  joint  highways 
district  No.  1,  that  the  engineering  department  draw  up  sijecifica- 
tions  and  make  surveys  for  the  construction  of  the  proposed  sky- 
line boulevard  in  San  Francisco,  San  Mateo,  Santa  Clara,  and  Santa 
Cruz  Counties.  An  appropriation  of  $2,4T1,000  for  construction 
work  is  included  in  a  bill  now  before  the  legislature.  The  boulevard 
will  be  constructed  from  San  Francisco  over  the  crest  of  the  moun- 
tains to  Santa  Cruz.  It  will  be  6T  miles  long. — [Chronicle,  San 
Francisco,  Calif.,  Mar.  20,  1919.] 

A  large  program  for  road  construction  is  being  formulated  by 
the  State,  which  will  provide  employment  for  a  great  number  of 
men. — [Telegram  from  chairman.  State  committee  on  readjustment 
to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  25,  1919.] 

A  constitutional  amendment  proposing  to  the  people  the  issuance 
of  $40,000,000  bonds  for  construction  of  highways  has  been  passed 
by  the  legislature,  and  was  approved  by  a  vote  of  the  people  on 


CALIFORNIA.  33 

July  1. — [Keply  from  State  council  of  defense  to  questionnaire  of 
the  Field  Division,  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  June  28, 1919 ; 
Chronicle,  San  Francisco,  Calif.,  July  2,  1919.] 

On  October  1,  1919,  26  highway  projects  had  been  approved  in  the 
State,  involving  the  improvement  of  287.48  miles  of  road  at  a  total 
estimated  cost  of  $5,353,766.56,  of  which  the  Federal  Government  is 
requested  to  pay  $2,640,378.25  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of 
the  Federal-aid  road  act  of  July  11,  1916,  as  amended  by  the  act  of 
February  28, 1919. —  [Statement  prepared  by  Bureau  of  Public  Eoads, 
U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture.] 

Information  Service  for  Returned  Service  Men. 

To  assist  the  families  and  other  dependents  of  California  soldiers 
to  obtain  the  money  that  is  due  them  from  the  Bureau  of  War 
liisk  Insurance,  the  State  committee  on  readjustment  has  been  au- 
thorized by  the  legislature  to  take  urgent  action  in  every  case  to 
expedite  the  settlement  of  allowances  and  allotments  for  the  inter- 
ested parties.  The  State  committee  has  created  a  war-risk  insurance 
department,  and  representation  in  every  county  is  being  arranged. 
It  is  also  appointing  volunteer  attorneys  recommended  by  the  vari- 
ous county  division  chairmen  to  assist  and  advise  claimants,  without 
charge,  in  making  out  necessary  forms  and  affidavits  to  be  sent  to  the 
State  committee  and,  after  review,  forwarded  to  Washington  and 
pressed  for  payment. — [News  release  of  State  committee  on  readjust- 
ment, Mar.  8,  1919.] 

The  State  committee  on  readjustment  through  its  war-risk  insur- 
ance department  is  sending  out'information  to  discharged  California 
soldiers  telling  them  how  to  obtain  the  $60  bonus  granted  by  Con- 
gress. The  county  division  chairmen  of  placement  work  and  the 
members  of  draft  boards  are  requested  to  assist  the  men,  and  attor- 
neys and  notaries  are  asked  to  continue  their  patriotic  services 
by  acting  without  charge  in  the  preparation  of  exact  certified  copies 
for  claimants'  retention  of  papers  that  must  go  to  Washington," 
Instructions  for  payment  of  Navy  people  which  were  announced  only 
recently  w^ill  be  sent  later  to  county  placement  divisions  by  the  State 
committee. — [News  release  of  State  committee  on  readjustment,  Mar. 
11,  1919.] 

The  local  branches  of  the  American  Red  Cross  are  cooperating 
Avith  other  organizations  in  establishing  contacts  with  service  men 
for  the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  adjustment  of  their  allotments, 
allowance  accounts,  compensation  and  claims,  and  the  reinstatement 
of  lapsed  or  canceled  insurance.  It  is  the  desire  of  the  Bureau  of 
War  Risk  Insurance  that  all  inquiries  of  this  nature  be  cleared 
through  the  home-service  sections  of  the  American  Red  Cross.  Up 
to  April  1, 1919,  tli^American  Red  Cross  had  organized  in  California 

134286''— 20— ^3 


34  UXITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  EECONSTriUCTION. 

347  units  with  a  total  of  8G4  Avorkers. — [Statement  prepared  by 
American  National  Red  Cross  for  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
November,  1919.] 
Land  Settlement. 

A  bill  permitting  the  Sacramento  and  San  Joaquin  drainage  dis- 
trict to  issue  bonds  to  take  up  assessments  aggregating  $11,000,000 
levied  in  the  district  by  the  reclamation  board,  was  passed  by  the 
senate. — [Chronicle,  San  Francisco,  Calif.,  Apr.  20,  1919.] 

The  adjutant  general,  who  is  also  the  chairman  of  the  State  com- 
mittee on  readjustment,  has  issued  a  proclamation  calling  for  the 
unremitting  cooperation  of  all  Californians  in  an  effort  to  give  to 
the  returning  soldier  his  due.  He  has  interested  a  number  of  public- 
spirited  men  to  meet  and  arrange  for  financial  backing  of  a  practical 
method  for  providing  farms,  not  only  for  returned  service  men  but 
for  others  who  are  not  financially  able  to  acquire  them.  It  is  de- 
clared that  California  is  in  need  of  i)opulation  to  develop  its  re- 
sources, and  that  the  Pacific  coast  would  profit  by  the  plan. — 
[Examiner,  San  Francisco,  Calif.,  Apr.  11,  1919.] 

The  Fourteen  Counties  Land  xissociation,  which  is  now  in  full 
working  order,  is  a  development  under  private  capital,  of  Califor- 
nia's State  land-settlement  plan,  which  was  brought  from  Aus- 
tralia. The  association  has  nearly  1,790,000  acres  and  will  expend 
$10,600,000  within  the  next  two  years,  and  is  cooperating  with  the 
State  land-settlement  board  and  the  State  reclamation  board  in 
providing  farms  for  ex-soldiers.  The  organization  has  now  ready 
for  occupancy  40,000  farms  of  40  acres  each,  in  the  richest  bottom 
lands  of  the  Sacramento  Valley.  All  of  this  land  is  to  be  farmed 
and  purchased  by  ex-soldiers  if  enough  apply.  Workers  who  have 
sacrificed  their  jobs  to  ex-soldiers  will  be  given  second  preference. 
Successful  tenant-farmers  who  want  to  become  owner-farmers  will 
come  third.  The  association  demands  no  cash  or  initial  capital,  and 
will  give  the  purchaser  10  to  20  years'  time  to  purchase.  The  new 
purchaser  of  a  40-acre  farm  has  one  vote,  and  the  great  land  com- 
panies have  one  vote  each  in  the  association.  Prospective  purchases 
Avill  be  looked  over  and  investigated  by  a  committee,  with  which  the 
State  land-settlement/  board  and  the  State  farm  advisers  will  co- 
cooperate.  Each  tract  will  have  its  farm  supervisor.  He  will 
advise  the  farmers  what  to  plant,  help  them  constantly,  and  put 
over  all  community  purchases  of  costly  tractors,  fine  bulls,  fencing, 
iuid  paints  by  the  carload.  He  will  help  every  man  on  the  tract  to 
financial  success.  The  association  will  finance  warehouse  companies, 
creameries,  flour  mills,  steamship  lines,  and  other  concerns  to  buy 
or  handle  the  farmers'  products.  The  policies  of  the  association 
are  to  be  democratically  controlled  by  its  members. — [Times- Call, 
Racine,  Wis.,  June  6,  1919.]  W  . 


CALIFORNIA.  35 

An  act  was  approved  May  2i,  amending  the  act  of  June  1,  1917, 
creating  the  hind  settlement  board,  the  object  of  which  is  to  provide 
employment  and  rural  homes  for  service  men,  to  promote  closer 
agricultural  settlement,  to  assist  deserving  and  qualified  persons  to 
acquire  small  improved  farms,  to  demonstrate  the  value  of  adequate 
capital  and  organized  direction  in  preparing  land  for  settlement, 
and  to  provide  homes  for  farm  laborers.  The  board  consists  of  five 
members  appointed  by  the  governor.  It  is  to  cooperate  with  the 
Govermnent  in  carrying  out  the  provisions  of  the  act.  The  act  of 
1917  appropriated  $260,000  and  the  act  of  1919  $1,000,000  for  the 
purpose  of  carrying  out  the  provisions  of  the  act,  the  amounts  to  be 
returned  with  interest  within  50  years. — [Statutes  of  California, 
1917,  ch.  755;  1919  ch.  450.] 

An  act  was  approved  providing  for  a  referendum  to  the  people  at 
the  general  election,  November,  1920,  of  a  bond  issue  of  $10,000,000 
to  provide  a  fund  for  the  payment  of  the  indebtedness  to  be  incurred 
in  carr3dng  out  the  provisions  of  the  act  approved  June  1,  1917. — 
[Statutes  of  California,  1919,  ch.  540.] 

Loans  to  Service  Men. 

Temporary  relief  is  furnished  returned  men  in  the  way  of  loans 
for  immediate  needs,  such  loans  being  made  without  security  or  in- 
terest by  the  American  Eed  Cross,  Jewish  Welfare  Board,  Salvation 
Army,  and  War  Camp  Community  Service. — [Telegram  from  State 
committee  on  readjustment  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
Mar.  26,  1919.] 
Marketing  Products. 

A  bill  has  been  introduced  in  the  State  senate  to  provide  for  the 
creation  of  a  State  market  commission  and  the  organization  thereof 
to  carry  on  the  business  of  receiving  from  producers  the  agricultural, 
fishery,  dairy,  and  farm  products  of  the  State  and  selling  and  dis- 
posing of  such  products  on  commission. — [Christian  Science  Monitor, 
Boston,  Mass.,  Sept.  9,  1919.] 
Preference  to  Returned  Service  Men  in  Public  Employment. 

Section  27  of  an  act,  approved  May  27,  amending  the  civil-service 
laws  specifies  that  when  proper  proof  is  presented  to  the  civil-service 
commission  that  an  applicant  is  a  veteran  who  served  honorably 
during  or  prior  to  the  war  between  the  United  States  and  the  Cen- 
tral Powers,  and  that  such  a  veteran  stands  equal  in  percentage  in 
any  civil-service  examination  for  original  entrance  into' the  public 
service  with  any  other  applicant  taking  the  same  examination,  it 
shall  be  the  duty  of  the  civil-service  commission  to  show  such  veteran 
preference  by  giving  him  the  higher  rank. — [Statutes  of  California, 
1919.  ch.  654.] 

In  the  $40,000,000  bond  issue  for  good  roads,  it  is  provided  that 
preference  sliall  be  given  to  discharged  soldiers,  sailors,  and  ma- 


36  TJNITED  STATES  KEADJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION". 

rines  as  employees  in  the  building  of  the  State  highways. —  [The 
Home  Sector,  New  York,  N.  Y.] 
Public  Works. 

Because  construction  work  in  California  provided  for  by  the 
United  States  and  by  the  State  is  not  being  commenced  immediately 
as  was  contemplated  in  the  enactments  providing  therefor,  due  to 
the  insufficiency  of  the  appropriations  to  cover  the  present  increased 
cost  of  construction,  and  .because  this  work  should  be  commenced 
in  order  to  stimulate  private  business  and  reestablish  the  confidence 
of  the  people,  the  State  committee  on  readjustment  has  passed  a 
resolution  urgently  recommending  that  the  legislature  appropriate 
sufficient  funds  to  cover  such  deficits  and  take  any  other  necessary 
steps,  in  order  that  the  work  may  be  begun  at  once;  and,  further, 
that  the  legislature  memorialize  Congress,  requesting  that  it  give 
immediate  impetus  to  all  Government  construction  by  the  appropria- 
tion of  adequate  sums  of  money  to  complete  all  work  outlined,  and 
to  provide  for  and  to  start  at  once  all  new  construction  possible. — 
[Letter  from  State  committee  on  readjustment  to  U.  S.  Council 
of  National  Defense,  Feb.  28,  1919.] 

Passage  of  a  bill  now  before  the  legislature  to  create  a  $5,000,000 
bond  issue  to  be  expended  in  constructing  State  water-storage  reser- 
voirs was  recommended  by  the  assembly  conservation  committee. 
The  bill  would  authorize  the  State  to  sell  water  and  lease  water 
and  power  sites. — [Chronicle,  San  Francisco,  Calif.,  Mar.  25,  1919.] 

Reports  received  in  January,  1919,  cover  86  public  building  and 
construction  projects  which  were  under  way  or  contemplated  in  the 
State,  aggregating  an  estimated  value  of  $89,360,000.  Of  this  num- 
ber 34  were  street  improvements,  estimated  to  cost  $20,865,000;  and 
11  were  waterworks,  estimated  to  cost  $59,830,000. — [Statistics  com- 
piled by  Division  of  Public  Works  and  Construction  Developments, 
U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor,  Apr.  IT,  1919.] 

A  total  of  $830,000  for  harbor  improvements  at  Los  Angeles  and 
Long  Beach  was  appropriated  when  the  senate  passed  the  bill  pro- 
viding that  $250,000  should  be  available  when  the  act  took  effect 
and  $580,000  more  should  be  paid  by  the  State  July  1, 1921.— [Chron- 
icle, San  Francisco,  Calif.,  Apr.  20,  1919.] 

In  a  discussio'^  between  a  representative  of  the  United  States  De- 
partment of  Labor  and  the  mayor  of  San  Francisco,  a  detailed 
program  for  municipal  improvements  in  San  Francisco  was  outlined. 
It  is  hoped  by  this  program  to  provide  employment  for  a  large  num- 
ber of  discharged  soldiers.  It  includes  the  expenditure  of  $1,000,000 
for  street  work,  which  is  expected  to  be  under  way  by  July  1 ;  $340,000 
for  new  schoolhouses ;  $500,000  for  sewer  and  street  repair  work; 
$1,000,000  before  July  on  the  Hetch  Hetchy  Valley  water  project; 
$600,000  subsequent  monthly  Hetch  Hetchy  expenditures ;  $2,660,000 


CALIFORNIA.  37 

bonds  to  be  sold  for  carrying  out  of  plans  proposed  by  the  board  of 
education  for  the  construction  of  new  buildings,  plans  for  which  are 
now  being  made. — [Bulletin,  San  Francisco,  Calif.,  Feb.  14,  1919.] 

Reconstruction  Programs. 

The  reconstruction  committee  of  the  State  federation  of  labor  has 
made  a  report  on  an  after-the-war  program  of  reconstruction.  It  is 
the  opinion  of  the  committee  that  no  justification  will  exist  for  re- 
duction of  wages;  that  cooperation  should  be  had  with  representa- 
tives of  returned  soldiers  and  sailors  to  prevent  exploitation  of  sol- 
diers to  the  detriment  of  workmen ;  that  a  standard  workday  of  not 
more  than  eight  hours  be  established  in  all  industries  where  it  does 
not  yet  obtain,  and  a  further  reduction  of  the  hours  of  labor  to  mini- 
mize unemployment  in  any  industry  where  a  surplus  of  idle  labor 
may  exist  or  where  conditions  are  such  that  even  eight  hours  of 
work  tend  to  exhaust  and  devitalize  the  employees ;  that  there  should 
be  established  cooperative  organizations  for  the  distribution  of  com- 
modities in  order  to  increase  the  purchasing  power  of  the  dollar; 
that  there  should  be  adopted  a  system  of  land  values  that  shall  in- 
clude a  supertax  on  all  idle,  uncultivated  land,  and  land  held  for 
speculative  purposes;  and  that  immediate  measures  should  be  taken 
to  extend  land  colonization  for  returned  soldiers.  The  report  favors 
public  ownership  of  public  utilities,  urges  the  strengthening  of  the 
seamen's  act  for  the  protection  of  workers  in  the  merchant  marine, 
and  demands  labor  representation  on  State  boards  and  commissions. 
Further,  the  report  insists  that  there  shall  be  no  curtailment  in  the 
progressive  and  humanitarian  work  of  the  State  government,  and 
concludes  by  urging  upon  tlie  representatives  of  California  industries 
the  same  coopei*ation  with  labor  as  was  manfested  in  dealing  with 
problems  during  the  war. — [Tribune,  Oakland,  Calif.,  Nov.  19,  1918.] 

One  of  the  new  ideas  advanced  by  this  committee  for  the  solution 
of  the  problem  of  absorbing  into  industry  the  returned  soldiers  with- 
out a  repression  of  wages,  is  the  proposal  that  the  returned  soldiers 
shall  cooperate  directly  with  the  State  federation  of  labor  or  the 
labor  unions  of  the  State  in  taking  up  again  the  work  of  production. 
Another  new  line  of  activity  recommended  is  the  utilization  of  the 
idea  of  cooperation  in  connection  with  the  labor-union  movement. 
It  is  demanded  that  representatives  of  labor  be  placed  on  all  boards 
raid  commissions  Avhere  labor  is  not  now  represented. — [Christian 
Science  Monitor,  Boston,  Mass.,  Nov.  28,  1918.] 

The  State  division  of  the  Woman's  Committee,  United  States 
Council  of  National  Defense,  issued  a  reconstruction  program  just 
before  its  dissolution  which  includes  many  reforms.  It  urges  that 
women  be  placed  on  the  various  commissions  and  State  agencies  in 
sufficient  numbers  to  deal  effectively  with  matters  of  public  policy; 
that  women  should  be  given  a  wage  similar  to  that  of  men  in  the 


38        Ujs^ited  states  readjustment  and  reconstruction. 

same  position;  that  the  eight-hour  day  should  be  enforced,  with  an 
extension  of  the  minimum  wage  to  all  classes  of  women;  that  a 
woman  should  be  appointed  on  the  State  labor  bureau,  and  a  woman 
should  be  named  assistant  director  of  women's  work  in  the  United 
States  Employment  Service ;  that  schools  should  be  opened  for  voca- 
tional education  of  returning  soldiers;  that  compulsory  education 
should  be  enforced  for  illiterates;  that  home  and  school  gardens 
should  be  maintained;  that  an  Americanization  program  should  be 
adopted  to  include  proper  housing  and  w^orking  conditions  for  tho 
immigrant  and  his  famih^;  and  that  the  county  allowance  for  de- 
pendent children  be  raised  fom  $11  to  $15  a  month,  and  that  they  be 
given  better  care. — [Express,  Los  Angeles,  Calif.,  Feb.  2,   1919.] 

Further  steps  for  placing  the  American  Service  League,  composed 
of  honorably  discharged  soldiers  and  sailors,  on  a  permanent  foot- 
ing were  taken  in  Los  Angeles  recently  at  an  enthusiastic  meeting. 
Their  proposed  program  includes  a  monument  to  the  war's  victims, 
a  social  center  for  returned  men,  and  a  distribution  center  of  labor 
so  that  employment  may  be  found  for  men  according  to  their  quali- 
fications. A  movement  was  started  to  agitate  extra  pay  for  returned 
soldiers.— -[Examiner,  Los  Angeles,  Calif.,  Feb.  7,  1919.] 

The  joint  assembly  and  senate  committee  which  investigated  the 
reconstruction  employment  problem  during  the  constitutional  re- 
cess, made  the  following  recommendations:  Investigating  the  sea- 
sonal unemployment  by  the  University  of  California,  the  State  labor 
commissioner,  and  the  innnigration  and  housing  commission;  mem- 
orializing of  Congress  to  restrict  immigration;  granting  of  one 
month's  furlough  pay  Avith  soldier's  allowance  for  six  months 
thereafter  on  discharge;  mustering  out  of  soldiers  near  home;  de- 
veloping of  natural  resources  and  the  construction  of  State  build- 
ings ;  the  constructing  of  new  highways ;  urging  the  State,  counties, 
and  cities  to  adopt  a  plan  of  reserving  certain  public  works  to  be 
done  during  times  of  financial  and  industrial  depression. — [Chroni- 
cle, San  Francisco,  Calif.,  Mar.  5,  1919.] 
Reliabilitation  of  Disabled  Service  Men. 

A  bill  has  been  introduced  in  the  legislature  providing  for  indus- 
trial and  military  rehabilitation  and  vocational  work,  to  be  carried 
on  under  the  direction  of  the  State  board  of  education  and  the  in- 
dustrial accident  commission.  The  bill  carries  an  appropriation  of 
$33,000,  contingent  on  an  appropriation  to  be  inade  by  the  Federal 
Government. — [Times,  Los  Angeles,  Calif.,  Apr.  9,  1919.] 
Hehabilitation  of  Physically  Handicapped  Persons. 

An  act,  approved  May  23,  provides  for  the  payment  for  medical, 
surgical,  and  hospital  care  and  treatment  incurred  in  the  removing 
of  physical  disqualifications  of  certain  California  men  examined  for 
military  service,  and  rejected  by  reason  of  physical  defects.     An 


CALIFORNIA.  39 

appropriation  of  $8,500  is  made  to  defray  the   expenses  of  this 
service.— [Statutes  of  California,  1919,  ch.  418.] 
School  Gardens. 

School  gardens  are  being  conducted  in  65  cities  and  towns,  the  total 
present  enrollment  in  the  State  being  102,542. — [Prepared  from  ma- 
terial furnished  by  U.  S.  School  Garden  Army  to  U.  S.  Council  of 
National  Defense,  Nov.  1,  1919.] 

Tax  Exemption  for  Service  Men. 

An  act,  approved  May  G,  carries  into  effect  article  13  of  the 
State  constitution  which  provides  that  "  the  property  to  the  amount 
of  $1,000  of  each  resident  in  the  State  who  has  served  in  the  Army, 
Navy,  or  Marine  Corps  in  time  of  war  and  received  an  honorable  dis- 
charge therefrom  shall  be  exempt  from  taxation."  The  act  gives  a 
list  of  21  Avars  as  being  within  the  intention  and  meaning  of  the 
constitution,  including  the  War  with  Germany  and  Austria. — [Stat- 
utes of  California,  1919,  ch.  206.] 
Vocational  Education  of  Service  Men. 

The  local  bui-eau  of  the  Federal  Board  for  Vocational  Education 
makes  special  educational  provisions  for  service  men. — [Telegram 
from  State  committee  on  readjustment  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National 
Defense,  Mar.  26,  1919.] 

Vocational  Reeducation  of  Disabled  Service  Men. 

A  bill  has  been  introduced  in  the  State  legislature  appropriating 
$200,000  to  provide  vocational  training  for  men  disabled  in  war  and 
industry. — [Union,  Sacramento,  Calif.,  Feb.  23,  1919.] 

In  accordance  with  section  2  of  the  Federal  vocational  rehabilita- 
tion act  of  June  27,  1918,  as  amended  July  11,  1919,  arrangements 
had  been  made  up  to  October  25,  1919,  by  the  Federal  Board  for 
Vocational  Education  with  65  educational  institutions  in  the  State 
for  the  reeducation  of  service  men  to  overcome  the  handicap  of  dis- 
abilities incurred  in  the  service.  A  total  of  533  such  men  have  been 
sent  to  these  institutions  for  training.  Arrangements  have  also  been 
made  by  this  board  with  37  industrial  establishments  in  the  State 
whereby  the  latter  have  undertaken  to  train  a  total  of  38  disabled 
men. — [Compiled  from  statement  prepared  by  Rehabilitation  Divi- 
sion, Federal  Board  for  Vocational  Education.] 
Welfare  of  Returned  Service  Men. 

Provided  with  working  capital  enough  to  undertake  the  operation 
of  a  clubhouse  and  hotel  for  the  accommodation  of  the  returned  fight- 
ing men  whom  the  organization  is  aiding  to  reestablish  in  civil  life, 
the  Seattle  Soldiers'  and  Sailors'  Council  has  made  an  appeal  to  pa- 
triotic citizens  for  aid  in  helping  them  to  obtain  suitable  quarters. 
A  down-town  building,  or  rooms  in  a  building,  are  wanted  by  the 
council;  and  if  obtained  at  a  modest  rental,  the  council  will  equip 


40  UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

and  open  in  the  near  future  a  permanent  camp  Avhere  soldiers  and 
sailors  discharged  from  the  service  and  in  need  of  financial  assist- 
ance will  be  provided  with  food  and  lodging  and  given  home  com- 
forts until  the  council's  employment  bureaus  can  find  them  jobs.— 
[Times,  Seattle,  Wash.,  Apr.  3,  1919.] 
Woman's  Committee. 

The  State  division  of  the  Woman's  Committee,  United  States 
Council  of  National  Defense,  in  going  out  of  business,  has  asked  that 
the  county  committees  be  held  together  in  order  that  they  may  render 
service  when  possible  to  the  State  committee  on  readjustment  Avhich 
is  supposed  to  take  over  some  of  the  activities  of  the  woman's  com- 
mittee.— [Letter  from  chairman,  State  division  of  the  Woman's 
Committee  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  2,  1919.] 

COLORADO. 

Americanization. 

Americanization  work  is  being  carried  on  by  a  special  committee 
appointed  by  the  governor.  The  committee  is  composed  of  both  men 
and  women.  Two  of  the  three  women  are  members  of  the  woman's 
council  of  defense,  but  the  committee  does  not  work  under  the  aus- 
pices of  this  council. — [Report  of  State  division  of  the  Woman's 
Committee  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Jan.  1,  1919.] 

There  are  many  local.  State,  and  Federal  agencies  at  work  trying 
to  solve  the  problem  of  Americanization.  The  Bureau  of  Naturaliza- 
tion is  aiming  to  secure  the  cooperation  of  all  these  agencies  in  the 
classes  which  it  is  fostering  in  this  State. — [Compiled  from  forth- 
coming report  of  director  of  citizenship  to  Commissioner  of  Natur- 
alization, U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor,  1920.] 

When  the  State  council  of  defense  was  discontinued  its  American- 
ization work  was  turned  over  to  the  extension  division  of  the  State 
university,  where  it  had  been  conducted  before  it  was  taken  over 
by  the  State  council  as  a  war  emergency  measure.  The  extension 
division  has  planned  to  carry  on  this  work  along  the  following  lines 
for  the  coming  year: 

The  organization  of  classes  in  English  and  citizenship  is  to  bo 
carried  on  directly  in  cooperation  with  the  Bureau  of  Naturalization 
through  its  Denver  office.  In  general,  the  Bureau  of  Naturaliza- 
tion will  give  its  energies  to  organizing  classes  and  assisting  the 
graduates  of  these  classes  to  obtain  their  naturalization  papers,  while 
the  extension  division  will  be  responsible  for  the  educational  aspects 
of  the  work  and  the  efficiency  of  the  classes  after  their  organization. 
While  this  is  the  general  plan  of  division,  however,  each  agency  w^ill 
assist  the  other  in  all  possible  ways,  and  both  will  seek  to  enlist  the 
active  cooperation  of  the  public  schools  in  towns  where  classes  are 
conducted.    This  plan  of  cooperation  is  believed  to  be  theoretically 


COLORADO.  41 

sound  as  well  as  practically  workable,  since  the  task  of  Americaniza- 
tion seems  to  involve  Federal,  State,  and  local  responsibility  in 
about  equal  proportion. 

The  establishment  of  community  Americanization  committees 
for  the  purpose  of  securing  a  closer  relationship  and  cooperation  ba- 
tween  the  foreign  and  native-born  elements  of  the  population. 

It  is  also  planning  to  bring  together  this  fall  in  a  conference  at 
the  university  all  of  the  different  agencies  in  the  State  interested  in 
Americanization  work,  so  that  all  forces  may  cooperate  as  closely  as 
possible  in  this  important  task  Avithout  loss  or  duplication  of  energy. 
For  the  accomplishment  of  these  ends  the  State  university  has  es- 
tablished a  definite  bureau  of  Americanization  in  the  extension  divi- 
sion.— [Statement  submitted  by  lieutenant  and  acting  governor  to 
U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Aug.  21,  1919.] 

*'  Back-to-School "  Drive. 

Throughout  the  State  the  ''Back-to-school"  drive  was  placed  be- 
fore the  county  chairmen,  and  the  work  outlined  was  carried  out  in 
some  localities. — [Eeport  of  child  conservation  section  of  the  Field 
Division  to  U.  S.  Couficil  of  National  Defense,  Oct.  1,  1918,  to 
July  1,  1919.] 

Boys'  Working  Reserve. 

The  senate  has  passed  a  bill  setting  aside  $17,000  for  the  State 
branch  of  the  United  States  Boys'  Working  Reserve. — [News,  Den- 
ver, Colo.,  Mar.  28,  1919.] 

Community  Organization. 

The  State  council  of  defense  has  taken  steps  to  have  the  State  legis- 
lature establish  an  interdepartmental  bureau  on  community  organi- 
zation to  direct  community  councils  of  defense  as  peace-time  organi- 
zations.— [Reply  from  State  council  of  defense  to  questionnaire  of 
the  Field  Division,  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Feb.  17,  1919. 
Council  of  Defense. 

The  governor  has  expressed  his  desire  that  the  chairmen  of  the 
various  county  councils  of  defense  keep  their  organization  intact, 
especially  along  the  lines  of  Americanization  and  farm  help.  He 
desires  to  continue  the  work  of  State  council  of  defense  either  under 
the  existing  name  or  under  a  new  name,  the  work  practically  remain- 
ing the  same. — [News  release  of  State  council  of  defense,  Jan.  27, 
1919.] 

In  his  message  to  the  legislature,  the  governor  recommended  a  con- 
tinuation of  the  State  council  of  defense  and  suggested  that  suiRcient 
funds  be  created  for  carrying  on  its  work. — [News  release  of  State 
council  of  defense,  Feb.  10,  1919.] 

The  State  council  of  defense  has  been  discontinued,  as  the  legisla- 
ture made  no  appropriation  for  it. — [Letter  from  former  executive 


42  UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

secretary,  State  council  of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  De- 
fense, Aug.  11,  1919.] 

Employment. 

A  bill  has  been  introduced  in  the  State  legislature  which,  among 
other  things,  provides  the  governor  with  sufficient  funds  to  aid  in 
the  development  of  Colorado,  thus  providing  work  for  the  un- 
employed.—  [News  release  of  State  council  of  defense,  Feb.  10,  1919.] 

Employment  offices  maintained  in  Colorado  by  the  Federal  Gov- 
ernment in  cooperation  w^ith  State  and  local  organizations,  report 
that  during  the  six  months'  period  from  January  1  to  June  30,  1919, 
29,387  persons  were  registered  who  were  seeking  employment ;  26,804 
requests  for  employees  were  received ;  and  22,978  persons  were  placed 
by  these  offices. — [Compiled  from  statistics  furnished  by  U.  S.  Em- 
ployment Service,  Aug.  8,  1919.] 

The  War  and  Navy  Departments'  citation  has  been  issued  to  219 
firms  in  Colorado,  these  employers  having  assured  the  War  and  Navy 
Departments  that  they  will  reemploy  everybody  who  formerly 
Avorked  with  them  and  left  to  serve  in  the  Army  or  Navy  during  the 
World  War. — [Memorandum  from  assistant  to  the  Secretary  of  War 
in  the  replacement  of  service  men  to  civil  life,  to  U.  S.  Council  of 
National  Defense,  Nov.  20,  1919.] 

The  War  Camp  Community  Service  maintained  the  central  em- 
ployment bureau  in  Boulder.  Applicants  at  other  stations  were 
turned  over  to  the  War  Camp  Community  Service  board,  which  was 
successful  in  placing  men. — [Report  of  War  Camx^  Community 
Service  for  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  August,  1919.] 

The  Denver  Civic  and  Commercial  Association  has  appointed  a 
special  committee  wliich  will  make  an  attempt  to  find  a  practical 
plan  to  solve  the  problem  of  unemployment  for  soldiers.  The  com- 
mittee will  hold  a  meeting  which  a  number  of  citizens,  representative 
of  various  interests  in  the  city,  will  attend  to  discuss  the  situation. — 
[Times,  Denver,  Colo.,  Mar.  11,  1919.] 

In  view  of  curtailment  of  the  United  States  Employment  Service, 
the  matter  of  providing  employment  for  returned  service  men  has 
been  taken  up  by  the  citizens  of  Denver,  and  a  committee  appointed  to 
wait  upon  the  governor  in  relation  thereto.  Subsequently  the  city 
administration  will  take  up  the  matter  with  the  labor  bureau,  and 
the  city  will  cooperate  in  every  way  possible  in  the  maintenance  of 
the  bureau. — [Letter  from  mayor  of  Denver  to  U.  S.  Council  of 
National  Defense,  Mar.  17,  1919.] 

The  Denver  Civic  and  Commercial  Association  has  assisted  in  the 
unification  of  Denver's  activities  in  behalf  of  employment  for  re- 
turned soldiers.  It  has  taken  steps  to  provide  for  the  maintenance 
of  the  office  of  the  United  States  Employment  Service  for  the  next 


COLORADO.  43 

few  months,  or  until  such  time  as  Congress  shall  furnish  an  adequate 
Federal  appropriation  for  that  office.  A  committee  of  25,  created 
by  the  association,  confers  with  returned  soldiers  and  others  seeking 
emplojmient  and  advises  with  them  as  to  the  best  course  to  be  fol- 
lowed in  their  efforts  to  take  their  proper  place  in  the  ranks  of  in- 
dustry.— [Publication  of  the  Denver  Civic  and  Commercial  Associa- 
tion. Mar.  20,  1919.] 

A  citizens'  committee  of  the  Denver  Civic  and  Commercial  Asso- 
ciation is  operating  to  obtain  employment  for  returned  service  men. 
In  cases  w^here  special  attention  is  required,  the  chamber  of  com- 
merce cares  for  the  men  according  to  their  need. — [Telegram  from 
mayor  of  Denver  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  24, 
1919.] 

The  War  Camp  Community  Service  in  Denver  jDledged  its 
resources  to  the  w^elfare  organizations  w  hich  combined  forces  to  serve 
the  returned  soldier  in  employment.  The  information  and  employ- 
ment bureau  of  the  War  Camp  Community  S-ervice  continued  to 
cooperate  closely  with  the  State  free  employment  bureau. — [Report 
of  War  Camp  Community  Service  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National 
Defense,  August,  1919.] 
Highways. 

The  State  highways  commission  advises  that  outside  of  an  ordi- 
nary road  fund  of  about  $1,000,000  no  provision  has  been  made  by 
the  legislature  to  match  the  funds  allotted  to  the  State  under  the 
Federal  law ;  and  that  no  provision  has  been  made  for  the  issuance 
of  bonds  for  road  construction.  He  states  that  these  matters  are 
under  consideration  at  this  time. — [Bulletin  No.  47,  Highwa^^s  Trans- 
port Committee,  U.  S.  Council  of  National  ^Defense.] 

The  senate  has  passed  the  house  concurrent  resolution  providing 
for  submission  to  the  voters  at  the  next  general  election  of  a  pro- 
posed constitutional  amendment  authorizing  a  $5,000,000  bond  issue 
for  good-roads  jDurposes.  Fifty  per  cent  of  the  money  raised  by  the 
bond  issue  would  be  apportioned  among  the  various  counties  of  the 
State,  according  to  mileage  of  State  routes  and  highways,  and  the 
other  50  per  cent  would  go  to  the  State  highway  fund  for  the  pur- 
pose of  meeting  Federal  aid  appropriations. — [Post,  Denver,  Colo., 
Apr.  1,  1919.] 

On  October  1,  1919,  25  highw^ay  projects  had  been  approved  in  the 
State,  involving  the  improvement  of  224.07  miles  of  road  at  a  total 
estimated  cost  of  $1,077,691.85,  of  which  the  Federal  Government  is 
requested  to  j)ay  $538,845.88  in  accordance  w^ith  the  provisions  of  the 
Federal-aid  road  act  of  July  11,  1916,  as  amended  by  the  act  of 
February  28, 1919. — [Statement  prepared  by  Bureau  of  Public  Roads, 
U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture.] 


44  "UNITED  STATES  KEADJUSTMENT  AND  KECONSTEUCTION. 

Home  Building. 

Denver  will  begin  an  "  Own-your-own-home "  campaign  within 
the  next  few  days  on  an  extensive  scale.  The  cooperation  of  all 
business  men  to  insure  its  success  is  anticipated  by  the  Civic  and 
Commercial  Association  of  Denver  and  the  city's  building  indus- 
tries, which  will  carr}^  on  the  movement.  The  campaign  is  thoroughly 
organized,  financed,  and  planned;  and  will  have  for  its  purpose  the 
revival  of  building,  the  provision  of  greatly  needed  houses  for  citi- 
zens, and  the  creation  of  a  better  city.  The  campaign  will  be  con- 
tinued as  long  as  it  is  deemed  advisable  by  those  directing  it. — 
[Publication  of  the  Denver  Civic  and  Commercial  Association,  Mar. 
13,  1919.] 
Information  Service  for  Eeturned  Service  Men. 

The  local  branches  of  the  American  Eed  Cross  are  cooperating 
with  other  organizations  in  establishing  contacts  with  service  men 
for  the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  adjustment  of  their  allotments, 
allowance  accounts,  compensation  and  claims,  and  the  reinstatement 
of  lapsed  or  canceled  insurance.  It  is  the  desire  of  the  Bureau  of 
War  Risk  Insurance  that  all  inquiries  of  this  nature  be  cleared 
through  the  home-service  sections  of  the  American  Red  Cross.  Up 
to  April  1,  1919,  the  American  Red  Cross  had  organized  in  Colorado 
248  units  with  a  total  of  612  workers. — [Statement  prepared  by 
American  National  Red  Cross  for  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
November,  1919.] 
Land  Eeclamation. 

At  a  reconstruction  meeting  of  the  Denver  Civic  and  Commercial 
Association,  the  governor  urged  irrigation  laws  to  aid  Colorado  de- 
velopment.— [News,  Denver,  Colo.,  Dec.  14,  1918.] 

Land  Settlement.     , 

The  bill  creating  the  land-settlement  board  has  been  passed  by  the 
State  senate.  The  measure  was  so  amended  as  to  empower  the  State 
board  of  land  commissioners  to  segregate  school  lands  and  sell  them 
to  former  soldiers,  sailors,  and  marines  upon  the  amortization  plan 
in  conjunction  with  the  settlement  board.  The  amendment  is  worded 
so  as  to  make  the  State's  $5,000,000  school  fund  available  for  the 
settlement  work  under  the  farm-loan  act.  The  sale  of  State  lands 
under  the  act  is  limited  to  former  soldiers,  sailors,  and  marines  w^ho 
intend  actually  to  settle  in  Colorado. — [Post,  Denver,  Colo.,  Apr. 
1,  1919.] 

The  legislature  has  enacted  a  bill  (S.  262),  approved  April  9, 
J  919,  providing  for  cooperation  in  soldier  settlements  with  the  Fed- 
eral Government. — [Memorandum  from  Reclamation  Service,  U.  S. 
Dept.  of  the  Interior  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  July 
1, 1919.] 


COLORADO.  45 

The  Denver  Civic  and  Commercial  Association  lias  been  active 
in  a  land-settlement  program  in  this  State.  Its  agriculture  and  live- 
stock bureau  initiated  the  plan  to  make  homesteads  out  of  the  vacant 
cultivatable  lands  of  Colorado;  and  further,  in  conjunction  with  the 
State  council  of  defense  and  a  special  committee  appointed  by  the 
governor,  prepared  a  bill  which  is  now  before  the  legislature.  This 
measure  carries  an  appropiation  of  $725,000  to  be  known  as  the 
land-settlement  fund  and  an  additional  $25,000  for  the  administra- 
tion of  the  soldier-settlement  plan  within  the  next  two  years.  The 
larger  appropriation  would  be  used  as  a  revolving  fund  for  20  years 
for  development  purposes,  deferred  payments  to  be  made  on  a  basis 
of  4J  per  cent.  The  measure  calls  for  the  establishment  of  a  land- 
settlement  board  to  consist  of  the  various  State  officials.  The  duties 
of  this  board  would  not  be  confined  to  the  purchase  of  privately 
owned  lands,  but  would  include  also  cooperation  between  the  State 
and  the  Federal  Government  in  the  United  States  Department  of 
the  Interior  plan  of  providing  farms  for  soldiers. — [Letter  from 
secretary.  Chamber  of  Commerce  of  U.  S.  A.,  to  Upper  Peninsula 
Development  Bureau  of  Michigan,  Feb.  20,  1919.] 

Public  Works. 

Reports  received  in  January,  1919,  cover  47  public  building  and 
construction  projects  which  were  under  way  or  contemplated  in  the 
State  aggregating  an  estimated  value  of  $19,910,000.  Of  this  number 
16  were  street  improvements,  estimated  to  cost  $6,830,000;  8  were 
schools,  estimated  to  cost  $8,335,000;  and  7  were  waterworks,  esti- 
mated to  cost  $1,670,000. — [Statistics  compiled  by  Division  of  Public 
Works  and  Construction  Developments,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor,  Apr. 
17,  1919.] 

To  keep  pace  with  the  reconstruction  plans  of  the  country  and  to 
present  needs  which  have  long  required  attention,  Denver  will  spend 
in  public  improvements  in  1919  funds  totaling  nearly  $1,400,000. 
Approximately  $1,000,000  of  this  outlay  will  be  devoted  to  necessary 
improvements  and  additions  to  the  city's  water  system.  Street 
improvements,  including  grading,  surfacing,  and  paving  of  streets; 
sewer  construction;  and  alley  paving  will  require  nearly  $300,000. 
The  city  will  also  expend  $100,000  in  the  construction  of  a  memorial 
entrance  to  the  new  civic  center,  a  fund  having  been  left  for  that 
purpose  by  a  private  estate. — [Christian  Science  Monitor,  Boston, 
Mass.,  Mar.  21,  1919.] 

Reconstruction  Expenditures. 

A  bill  has  been  introduced  in  the  State  legislature  which  proposes 
to  raise  funds  to  aid  in  the  payment  of  extraordinary  expenditures 
arising  out  of  or  in  connection  with  the  war  between  the  United 
States  and  Germany.     A  measure  has  also  been  introduced  which 


46  LTNITED  STATES  EEADJUSTMEXT  AKD  EEC0NSTRUCTI0:N'. 

places  a  sufficient  amount  of  tliis  fund  at  the  disposal  of  the  gover- 
nor to  be  used  by  him  in  maintaining  the  State  council  work  during 
the  period  of  readjustment  and  reconstruction. — [News  release  of 
State  council  of  defense,  Feb.  10,  1919.] 
School  Gardens. 

School  gardens  are  being  conducted  in  44  cities  and  towns,  the  total 
present  enrollment  in  the  State  being  15,403. — [Prepared  from  mate- 
rial furnished  by  U.  S.  School  Garden  Army  to  U.  S.  Council  of 
National  Defense,  Nov.  1,  1919.] 
state  Supei'vision  of  Transportation. 

The  "motor  truck"  bill  to  be  presented  at  the  coming  session  of  the 
general  assembly  will  give  the  public  utilities  commission  of  the 
State  power  and  authority  to  supervise  and  regulate  everj^  transpor- 
tation company  in  the  State. — [Power  AYagon,  Chicago,  III.,  Mar., 
1919.] 
Vocational  Education. 

The  State  legislature  has  passed  a  bill  by  wdiich  a  fund  of  $'200,- 
000  is  allowed  for  the  benefit  of  returned  service  men  seeking  vo- 
cational education.  Any  soldier  may  obtain  a  loan  of  $200,  free  of 
interest  for  three  years,  to  carry  him  through  the  training. — [News, 
Denver,  Colo.,  Apr.  8,  1919.] 

Since  the  armistice  was  signed,  the  extension  division  of  the  State 
university  through  its  bureau  of  vocational  education  has  been 
pushing  vigorously  its  work  of  assisting  men  in  industry  by  means 
of  class  instruction  that  will  give  them  further  educational  prepa- 
ration for  their  tasks.  Six  hundred  and  twenty-three  men  have 
been  enrolled  in  these  classes,  and  have  taken  one  or  more  of  the 
following  subjects:  Shop  mathematics,  practical  English,  sugar 
technology,  ventilation,  mine  gases  and  safety  lamps.  This  Avork 
has  been  carried  on  in  cooperation  wath  the  State  board  for  voca- 
tional educational.  During  the  coming  j^ear  it  is  planned  to  enlarge 
the  scope  of  this  work  as  much  as  possible.  The  courses  and  instruc- 
tion are  adapted  directly  to  the  needs  of  the  men,  and  an  attempt  is 
made  to  secure  the  cooperation  of  the  management  of  the  industrial 
plants  in  w^hich  the  men  are  working. — [Statement  submitted  by 
lieutenant  and  acting  governor  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
Aug.  21,  1919.] 
Vocational  Reeducation  of  Disabled  Service  Men. 

In  accordance  with  section  2  of  the  Federal  vocational  rehabilita- 
tion act  of  June  27,  1918,  as  amended  July  11,  1919,  arrangements 
had  been  made  up  to  October  25,  1919,  by  the  Federal  Board  for 
Vocational  Education  with  18  educational  institutions  in  the  State 
for  the  reeducation  of  service  men  to  overcome  the  handicap  of  dis- 
abilities incurred  in  the  service.  A  total  of  415  such  men  have  been 
sent  to  these  institutions  for  training.    Arrangements  have  also  been 


CONNECTICUT.  47 

made  by  the  Federal  Board  with  57  industrial  establishments  in  the 
State  whereby  the  latter  have  undertaken  to  train  a  total  of  01  dis- 
abled men. — [Compiled  from  statement  prepared  by  Rehabilitation 
DIa  ision.  Federal  Board  for  Vocational  Education.] 
"Vv  Oman's  Committee. 

Every  county  in  the  State  has  a  chairman  of  the  woman's  council 
of  defense  and  a  more  or  less  complete  organization.  In  some  coun- 
ties every  town  and  village  is  completely  organized,  wiih  a  full  list 
of  committees  and  an  active  force  of  workers;  in  other  counties  one. 
group  of  women  comprises  the  entire  list  of  officers  and  committees.— 
[Report  of  State  division  of  the  Woman's  Committee  to  U.  S,  Coun- 
cil of  National  Defense.  Nov.  11,  1918.] 

The  chairman  of  the  county  units  of  the  Woman's  Committee, 
United  States  Council  of  National  Defense,  have  been  urged  to 
cooperate  with  the  United  States  Employment  Service.  A  member 
of  the  Colorado  Woman's  Council  of  Defense  is  in  charge  of  the 
woman's  division  of  the  local  office  of  the  United  States  Employment 
Service,  and  is  coordinating  the  employment  activities  of  the  two 
bodies.  In  addition  to  handling  matters  pertaining  to  the  employ- 
ment of  women,  the  woman's  council  is  cooperating  with  the  United 
States  Employment  Service  in  finding  work  for  returning  soldiers. — 
[Report  of  State  division  of  the  Woman's  Committee  to  U.  S.  Coun- 
cil of  National  Defense,  elan.  24,  1919.] 

Pending  the  action  of  the  legislature  to  authorize  the  continuance 
of  the  State  council  of  defense,  the  governor  has  requested  the  of- 
ficers and  chairmen  of  the  departments  of  the  State  division  of  the 
Woman's  Committee,  United  States  Council  of  National  Defense, 
all  of  whom  were  appointed  by  the  former  governor,  to  carry  on 
the  Avork  until  their  successors  are  appointed.  These  officers  were 
appointed  by  the  ex-governor  for  the  duration  of  his  term  of  office 
only. — [News  release  of  State  council  of  defense,  Feb.  10,  1919.] 

CONNECTICUT. 

Americanization. 

The  department  of  Americanization  of  the  State  council  of  de- 
fense has  begun  the  issuance  of  a  monthly  publication,  entitled 
Connecticut  xVmericanization,  devoted  to  the  interests  of  Ameri- 
canization work  in  Connecticut. 

The  State  council  of  defense  reports  that  interest  in  night  schools 
is  rapidly  increasing.  While  at  first.it  was  necessary  to  urge  the 
foreign  born  to  attend,  now  so  much  interest  is  shown  that  further 
persuasion  is  seldom  necessary.  Nevertheless,  campaigns  to  increase 
the  attendance  are  being  vigorously  pushed. 

The  Americanization  committee  of  the  State  council  of  defense 
lias  established  77  local  committees,  and  there  are  500  active  Ameri- 


48  UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

canization  Avorkers  in  direct  contact  with  the  State's  foreign-born 
population.  A  bill  providing  for  the  permanency  of  the  committee 
is  before  the  general  assembly.  The  State  department  of  Ameri- 
canization has  a  field  director  who  organizes  the  local  committees, 
and  a  field  assistant  Avho  acts  as  a  link  between  the  department  and 
the  foreign  born  themselves.  The  latter  is  a  linguist  and  addresses 
meetings  of  the  nationalities  in  their  own  languages.  A  proof  of  the 
efficiency  of  this  method  occurred  in  Wallingford,  where  42  Poles 
enrolled  for  the  night-school  courses  in  English,  United  States  his- 
tory, and  civics  as  a  direct  result  of  a  single  mass  meeting.  This 
number. was  larger  than  the  total  of  all  nationalities  which  has  pre- 
viously been  attending  the  night  school. 

Besides  the  night  schools,  the  department  uses  such  channels  as 
settlement  houses,  industries,  clubs,  and  racial  organizations  to  gain 
contact  with  the  foreign  born.  Several  local  committees  are  con- 
ducting picture  entertainments,  the  pictures  being  of  an  educational 
nature.  Plans  are  under  consideration  whereby  all  libraries  may 
cooperate.  A  State-wide  system  of  American  clubs  is  also  contem- 
plated.— [News  release  of  State  council  of  defense,  Feb.  15,  1919.] 

The  State  department  of  Americanization  is  distributing  pay  en- 
velope slips  to  the  managers  of  various  industrial  plants.  These 
slips  are  printed  in  English,  Italian,  French,  Polish,  Yiddish,  Hun- 
garian, and  Slovak,  and  are  inserted  by  the  manager  into  the  pay 
envelopes  of  the  foreign-born  employees.  They  read  as  follows: 
"Attention,  foreign-born  employee!  Industries  prefer  to  employ 
persons  who  can  speak  the  English  language.  Persons  unable  to 
speak  English  are  the  first  to  be  discharged.  Preference  in  promo- 
tion is  given  to  persons  able  to  speak  English.  Better  wages  are 
frequently  given  to  persons  able  to  speak  Engilsh  in  preference  to 
those  unable  to  speak  English.  Learn  to  speak,  read,  and  write 
English  at  the  evening  public  school  nearest  your  home." — [For- 
eign-American Series,  Bulletin  No.  10,  National  War  Work  Council, 
Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  New  York,  N.  Y.] 

Since  the  department  of  Americanization  was  established  by  the 
State  council  of  defense  September  1,  1918,  12  of  its  76  local  com- 
mittees have  conducted  Americanization  surveys.  This  information 
is  contained  in  a  statement  issued  by  the  department  of  American- 
ization, reviewing  Americanization  activities  in  the  State  since  their 
inception  early  in  1917. — [News  release  of  State  council  of  defense, 
Mar.  22,  1919.] 

All  the  public  libraries  in  the  State  have  been  appealed  to  by  the 
Americanization  department  to  help  in  the  Americanization  move- 
ment. With  the  appeal  was  sent  a  detailed  schedule  showing  how 
they  can  carry  on  Americanization  work. — [News  release  of  State 
council  of  defense.  Mar.  23,  1919.] 


CONNECTICUT.  49 

The  Americanization  department  of  the  State  council  of  defense 
ceased  to  exist  on  April  30.  The  State  board  of  education  is  now 
handling  the  work  of  Americanization,  which  has  been  extended  into 
75  counties. — [Times,  Hartford,  Conn.,  May  2,  1919.] 

The  department  of  Americanization,  formerly  under  the  State 
council  of  defense,  and  established  by  an  act  of  the  general  assembly 
as  a  department  of  State  board  of  education,  will  carry  out  a  State- 
wide program  including  such  phases  of  Americanization  as  protec- 
tion of  the  foreign  born  from  exploitation,  employment,  educational 
propaganda,  industrial  relations,  economic  conditions,  and  housing 
and  living  conditions. — [Letter  from  governor's  secretary  to  U.  S. 
C  ouncil  of  National  Defense,  May  12,  1919.] 

An  act  was  approved  May  21  providing  for  the  establishment 
of  a  department  of  Americanization  and  the  appointment  of  a 
director  with  such  powers  and  duties  as  may  be  prescribed  by  the 
Slate  board  of  education.  The  act  also  provides  that  the  school  com- 
mittee of  any  town  designated  by  the  State  board  of  education  may 
a])point  a  town  director  of  Americanization.  A  sum  of  $50,000  is 
appropriated  to  carry  out  the  provisions  of  the  act. — [Public  Acts 
of  Conn.,  1919,  ch.  286.] 

The  State  through  its  governor  and  also  its  Americanization 
department  is  issuing  a  rally  call  to  all  State  educational  directors, 
school  teachers,  clergymen,  and  employers  of  labor  to  cooperate  in 
the  making  of  aliens  into  loyal  American  citizens. — [Christian 
Science  Monitor,  Boston,  Mass.,  Oct.  20,  1919.] 

Community  singing  is  an  important  feature  of  Americanization 
work  in  Bridgeport,  due  chiefly  to  the  fact  that  the  managers  of 
factories  welcomed  singing  as  the  best  medium  through  which  to 
begin  the  teaching  of  English.  A  Hungarian  community  chorus 
organized  in  the  Hungarian  section  of  the  city,  created  an  interest 
and  a  spirit  of  cooperation  among  the  young  people,  and  soon  the 
parents  also  became  interested  in  the  Americanization  work  of  com- 
munity service.  Later,  committees  were  formed  to  care  for  all 
branches  of  community  activities  among  the  Hungarians. — [Keport 
of  War  Camp  Community  Service  for  U.  S.  Covmcil  of  National 
Defense,  August,  1919.] 

The  mayor's  Americanization  committee  of  Hartford  is  acting 
with  the  board  of  education  in  all  matters  relating  to  citizenship. 
Visitors  have  been  sent  to  each  home  to  interview  the  men  and 
IV omen.  The  good  results  have  justified  this  plan  of  house-to-house 
visiting.  The  interest  is  pretty  general  throughout  the  State.  The 
examiner  for  Meriden  reports  that  500  men  took  out  their  naturali- 
zation papers  largely  as  the  result  of  classes  of  instruction  for  the 
aJiens.  He  reports  that  posters  have  been  of  effective  assistance. — 
134286°— 20 4 


^0  UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

[Compiled  from  forthcoming  report  of  director  of  citizenship  to 
Commissioner  of  Naturalization,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor,  1920.] 

In  Waterbury  the  board  of  education  conducts  in  two  of  the  city 
schools  special  classes  for  workers  from  5  to  G  p.  m.  This  course 
lasts  20  weeks  and  affords  instruction  in  reading,  writing,  and  speak- 
ing English,  and  in  the  elements  of  civics  and  citizenship. — [News 
release  of  State  council  of  defense,  Feb,  8,  1919.] 

Assistance  for  Service  Men  and  Their  Families. 

An  act  vv'as  approved  March  12  providing  temporary  financial 
assistance  to  discharged  soldiers,  sailors,  and  marines,  and  to  the 
dependents  of  men  who  died  while  in  actual  service.  The  relief 
is  extended  through  the  board  of  control,  which  is  directed  to  coop- 
crate  with  Federal  agencies  to  secure  prompt  and  proper  treatment, 
care,  and  relief. — ^^[Public  Acts  of  Conn.,  1919,  ch.  2.] 

An  act  approved  in  1919  provides  that  any  corporation  may  make 
contributions  for  the  care  and  comfort  of  those  engaged  in  the  w^ar 
or  for  their  families  or  dependents. — [Public  Acts  of  Conn.,  1919, 
ch.  9.] 

The  State  council  of  defense  is  cooperating  with  all  welfare  or- 
ganizations in  giving  assistance  to  service  men.  The  home-service 
sections  of  the  American  Red  Cross  are  providing  legal,  medical,  and 
family  aid.  Manufacturers  are  reemploying  returned  soldiers.  The 
State  legislature  increased  the  amount  of  the  soldiers'  alloAvances. — • 
[News  release  of  State  council  of  defense,  Apr.  6,  1919.] 

An  act,  approved  April  24,  provides  for  the  payment  of  burial 
expenses  of  soldiers,  sailors,  and  marines  who  have  served  in  the 
several  wars  and  who  die  without  leaving  sufficient  estate  to  pay 
the  same.  The  amount  is  limited  to  $50.  The  act  provides  that 
such  persons  shall  not  be  buried  in  cemeteries  used  for  the  pauper 
dead.  Headstones  are  also  provided  for.  (Public  Acts  of  Conn., 
1919,  ch.  148.) 

An  act,  approved  May  21,  directs  the  State  treasurer  to  purchase 
United  States  Government  bonds  or  notes  of  not  more  than 
$2,500,000andplacetheminthecustocly  of  the  board  of  control.  The 
interest  on  this  fund  is  to  be  paid  over  to  the  treasurer  of  an  organiza- 
tion of  soldiers,  sailors,  and  marines  who  served  during  the  war 
against  Germany.  The  money  received  by  this  organization  is  to  be 
expended  in  furnishing  food,  wearing  apparel,  medical  or  surgical 
aid,  care  or  relief,  or  in  bearing  the  funeral  expenses  of  soldiers, 
sailors,  and  marines  who  are  eligible  to  membership,  or  to  their 
widows  or  dependent  children.  '  No  assistance  is  to  be  given  under 
this  act  to  persons  who  are  receiving  aid  under  the  act  of  March  12, 
1919.     (Public  Acts  of  Conn.,  1919,  ch.  33G.) 

Bridgeport  is  providing  for  the  needs  of  service  men.  The  State 
has  recently  made  provision  by  legislation   for   furnishing  relief 


COl^NECTICUT.  51 

through  local  boards  to  returned  men  and  their  families.     The  home- 
service  section  of  the  American  Red  Cross  furnishes  supplemental 
relief  whenever  necessary. — [Letter  from  mayor  of  Bridgeport  to 
IT.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  25,  1919.] 
"  Sack-to-School  "  Drive. 

A  well  organized  "Back-to-school"  drive  has  been  conducted. 
Unique  work  has  been  done  on  the  scholarship  plan.  Several 
private  schools  give  scholarships. — [Report  of  child  conservation 
section  of  the  Field  Division  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
Oct.  1,  1918,  to  July  1,  1919.] 
Employment. 

An  act,  approved  April  29,  authorized  the  board  of  control  to  con- 
tinue the  maintenance  of  the  free  emplo^^iient  bureaus  at  Bridgeport, 
Hartford,  Mericlen,  New  Haven,  New  London,  Stamford,  Torring- 
ton,  Waterbur3%  and  Willimantic  until  June  30,  in  conjunction  with 
the  LTnited  States  Department  of  Labor. — [Public  Acts  of  Conn., 
1919,  ch.  192.] 

Employment  offices  maintained  in  Connecticut  by  the  Federal 
Government  in  cooperation  with  State  and  local  organizations  re- 
jKjrt  that  during  the  six  months"  period,  from  January  1  to  June  30, 
1919,  GG,261  persons  were  registered  who  were  seeking  employjnent; 
40,868  requests  for  employees  were  received ;  and  2G,842  persons  were 
l^laced  by  these  offices. — [Compiled  from  statistics  furnished  by 
U.  S.  Employment  Service,  Aug.  8,  1919.] 

The  War  and  Navy  Departments"  citation  has  been  issued  to  GOl 
firms  in  Connecticut,  these  emploj^ers  having  assured  the  War  and 
Navy  Departments  that  they  will  reemploy  everybody  M^ho  formerly 
worked  Avith  them  and  left  to  serve  in  the  Army  or  Nav}^  during  the 
World  War.^ — [Memorandum  from  assistant  to  the  Secretar}^  of  War 
in  the  replacement  of  service  men  to  civil  life,  to  U.  S.  Council  of 
National  Defense,  Nov.  20,  1919.] 

The  employment  situation  in  Bridgeport  is  being  handled  by  a 
local  office  of  the  United  States  Employment  Service,  which  has 
furnished  employment  for  large  numbers  of  returning  men. — [Letter 
from  mayor  of  Bridgeport  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
Mar.  25,  1919.] 

In  Waterbury,  a  munition  town,  the  ending  of  the  war  decidedly 
upset  labor  conditions.  Factories  which  had  been  running  at  full 
speed  found  that  their  orders  were  less  and  that  their  output  must  be 
cut  down.  In  deciding  whom  to  discharge,  authorities  have  in- 
stalled a  card  information  system  to  ascertain  which  men  aijcl  women 
are  the  most  dependent  upon  their  immediate  wages.  Every  em- 
ployee in  Waterbury  has  been  requested  to  fill  out  a  card  stating 
w^liether  he  or  she  has  others  to  support.  Those  having  dependents 
will  be  the  last  to  be  dropped  from  the  pay  rolls  in  all  cases  where 


52  UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

practicable.  In  applying  for  jobs,  the  returned  soldier  is  given  the 
preference,  the  married  man  with  dependents  coming  next.  Every 
soldier  and  sailor  is  asked  whether  he  has  applied  for  his  old  posi- 
tion, and  if  so,  with  what  result.  It  is  intended  to  compile  a  list 
of  all  employers  who  refuse  to  give  service  men  their  former  jobs. 
The  service  men  are  also  asked  whether  they  are  in  need  of  financial 
assistance  before  the  first  pay  day.  While  the  employment  situa- 
tion is  serious  in  Waterbury,  rapid  strides  are  being  made  to  remedy 
conditions.  In  this  city  some  six  or  seven  thousand  workers  have 
been  released  from  factories,  but  many  have  been  absorbed  in  the 
peace  industries.  Fully  3,000  persons,  workers  and  their  families, 
have  left  the  city  in  the  past  13  weeks.  About  800  persons  have 
returned  to  the  places  they  came  from  when  the  munition-making 
boom  started.  The  employers  have  agreed  not  to  hire  an}^  workers 
from  out  of  town  until  all  here  have  been  employed.  A  list  of  those 
discharged  is  being  kept,  and  positions  will  be  found  for  them  before 
outsiders  are  given  work. — [Record,  Boston,  Mass.,  Jan.  15,  1919.] 
Highways. 

Connecticut  has  a  big  road-building  program  now  under  way,  in 
which  $3,000,000  is  to  be  spent  this  year  in  constructing  permanent 
highways  in  that  Commonwealth. —  [World,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Mar. 
23,  1919.] 

On  October  1, 1919,  four  highway  projects  had  been  approved  in  the 
State,  involving  the  improvement  of  56.38  miles  of  road  at  a  total 
estimated  cost  of  $1,634,839.55,  of  which  the  Federal  Government  is 
requested  to  pay  $790,230  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the 
Federal-aid  road  act  of  July  11,  1916,  as  amended  by  the  act  of 
February  28,  1919. — [Statement  prepared  by  Bureau  of  Public 
Roads,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture.] 
Information  Service  for  Returned  Service  Men. 

The  local  branches  of  the  American  Red  Cross  are  cooperating 
with  other  organizations  in  establishing  contacts  with  service  men 
for  the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  adjustment  of  their  allotments, 
allowance  accounts,  compensation  and  claims,  and  the  reinstatement 
of  lapsed  or  canceled  insurance.  It  is  the  desire  of  the  Bureau  of 
War  Risk  Insurance  that  all  inquiries  of  this  nature  be  cleared 
through  the  home-service  sections  of  the  American  Red  Cross.  Up 
to  April  1,  1919,  the  American  Red  Cross  had  organized  in  Connecti- 
cut 140  units  with  a  total  of  614  workers. — [Statement  prepared  by 
American  National  Red  Cross  for  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
November,  1919.] 
Land  Settlement. 

In  connection  with  the  land-settlement  plan  proposed  by  the  Secre- 
tary of  the  Interior  it  is  estimated  that  800,000  acres  of  land  in  Con- 
necticut have  reverted  to  a  wild  state.    There  is  no  scarcity  of  land  to 


CONNECTICUT.  53 

be  reclaimed  in  Connecticut.— [Christian  Science  Monitor,  Boston, 
Mass.,  Jan.  11,  1919.] 

,  The  governor  urged  the  adoption  of  soldier-settlement  legislation 
in  his  message  to  the  general  asseinbly,  and  introduced  a  bill  early 
in  the  session  "  which  covered  the  ground  substantially,"  but  no  action 
was  taken. — [Memorandum  from  Reclamation  Service,  U.  S.  Dept. 
of  the  Interior  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  July  21,  1919.] 
Preference  to  Returned  Service  Men  in  Public  Employment. 

An  act,  approved  in  1917,  (ch.  149)  provides  that  veterans  of 
the  wars  of  the  United  States  are  to  be  preferred  in  the  State  for  all 
positions  open  in  the  State  government.  The  law  also  prohibits  dis- 
charging or  reducing  the  compensation  of  a  veteran  without  granting 
him  a  hearing. — [Information  Bureau,  American  National  Red  Cross, 
Compendium"  Change  No.  117.] 
Public  Works. 

Reports  received  in  January,  1919,  cover  56  public  building  and 
construction  projects  which  were  under  way  or  contemplated  in  the 
State,  aggregating  an  estimated  value  of  $18,120,000.  Of  this  num- 
ber 17  were  street  improvements,  estimated  to  cost  $5,735,000;  10 
were  schools,  estimated  to  cost  $3,230,000;  and  7  were  waterworks, 
estimated  to  cost  $2,080,000. — [Statistics  compiled  by  Division  of 
Public  Works  and  Construction  Developments,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor, 
Apr.  17, 1919.] 

Renewal  of  Auto  Operators'  Licenses  to  Service  Men  without  Examination. 

A  bill  was  passed  by  the  State  legislature  which  will  enable  re- 
turned soldiers,  sailors,  and  marines  who  were  licensed  motor-vehicle 
operators  before  they  entered  the  service,  but  whose  licenses  were  not 
renewed  last  year,  to  obtain  licenses  this  year  without  examination. — 
[Letter  from  governor's  secretary  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  De- 
fense, May  12,  1919.] 

School  Gardens. 

School  gardens  are  being  conducted  in  21  cities  and  towns,  the  total 
present  enrollment  in  the  State  being  16,121. — [Prepared  from  mate- 
rial furnished  by  U.  S.  School  Garden  Army  to  U.  S.  Council  of 
N^ational  Defense,  Nov.  1,  1919.] 
Suffrage  for  Returned  Service  Men. 

An  act,  approved  May  2,  provides  that  honorably  discharged 
soldiers,  sailors,  or  marines  who  served  in  the  World  War,  if  other- 
wise qualified,  may  be  admitted  as  electors  in  the  towns  where  they 
reside  upon  presentation  of  their  certificates  of  discharge  or  other 
proof  of  service. — [Public  Acts  of  Conn.,  1919,  ch.  189.] 
Tax  Exemption  for  Service  Men. 

An  act,  approved  April  24,  exempts  from  taxation  the  property 
to  the  amount  of  $3,000  of  any  soldier,  sailor,  or  marine  receiving 
a  pension  or  an  annuity  from  the  United  States,  who,  while  in 


54  UI^ITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

service,  lost  a  leg  or  arm,  or  suffered  disabilities  which,  by  the  rules 
of  the  United  States  Pension  Office,  are  equivalent  to  such  loss ;  also 
the  propert}^  to  the  amount  of  $1,000  of  every  resident  who  is  serving 
or  who  has  served  in  the  Army,  Navy,  Marine  Corps,  or  Coast 
Guard  in  time  of  war  and  received  an  honorable  discharge.  Tax 
provision  exemption  is  also  made  for  the  widows  and  widowed 
mothers  of  sucli  service  men. — [Public  Acts  of  Conn.,  1919,  ch.  159.] 

An  act,  approved  in  1918  (ch.  181),  makes  it  unnecessary  for  any 
discharged  soldier,  sailor,  or  marine  to  obtain  a  license  for  ped- 
dling.— [Information  Bureau,  American  National  Red  Cross,  Com- 
pendium Change  No.  117.] 
Vocational  Reeducation  of  Disabled  Service  Men. 

With  the  object  of  getting  first-hand  information  on  the  subject  of 
the  reeducation  of  maimed  soldiers,  officials  of  the  State  board  of 
education  are  visiting  a  number  of  cities  in  Canada. — [Post,  Hart- 
ford, Conn.,  Aug.  14,  1918.] 

No  legislation  was  enacted  by  the  legislature  that  met  this  year 
with  reference  to  the  reeducation  of  soldiers.  The  work  is  being 
carried  on  by  the  State  board  of  education,  the  grade  schools  co- 
operating in  it. — [Letter  from  governor's  secretary  to  U.  S.  Council 
of  National  Defense,  May  12,  1919.] 

Jn  accordance  with  section  2  of  the  Federal  vocational  rehabili- 
tation act  of  June  27,  1918,  as  amended  July  11,  1919,  arrangements 
had  been  made  up  to  October  25,  1919,  by  the  Federal  Board  for 
Vocational  Education  w^ith  22  educational  institutions  in  the  State 
for  the  reeducation  of  service  men  to  overcome  the  handicap  of  dis- 
abilities incurred  in  the  service.  A  total  of  95  such  men  have  been 
sent  to  these  institutions  for  training.  Arrangements  have  also  been 
made  by  this  board  with  five  industrial  establishments  in  the  State 
whereby  the  latter  have  undertaken  to  train  five  disabled  men.^ 
[Compiled  from  statement  prepared  by  Rehabilitation  Division, 
Federal  Board  for  Vocational  Education.] 

The  Federal  Board  for  Vocational  Education  has  two  representa- 
tives in  Bridgeport,  one  of  w^hom  is  making  surveys  of  men  apphdng 
for  training,  and  the  other  is  seeking  employment  for  disabled  sol- . 
diers.  There  is  good  cooperation  between  all  the  organizations,  and 
the  manufacturers  of  the  city  have  gone  on  record  as  willing  and 
anxious  to  place  their  returning  men. — [Letter  from  mayor  of 
Bridgeport  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  25,  1919.] 

DELAWARE. 

Americanization. 

The  State  is  alive  to  the  importance  of  Americanizing  the  foreign 
born.  The  number  of  aliens  in  Delaware  is  not  so  great  as  in  many 
other  States,  and  the  situation  can  be  met  without  undue  straining 
or  overburdening  of  the  State's  resources  or  institutions,  if  prompt 


DELAWARE.  55 

action  be  taken.  The  State  council  of  defense  has  already  com- 
menced to  carry  out  an  Americanization  program  along  certain 
fundamental  and  necessary  lines,  by  taking  a  complete  census  of 
aliens  so  as  to  furnish  a  basis  for  all  plans. 

An  additional  survey  of  matters  relating  especially  to  aliens, 
which  will  take  a  longer  period  of  time,  is  planned,  in  order  to  obtain 
accurate  information  on  the  demand  and  supply  of  foreign-born 
workers  in  the  industries  of  the  State.  Information  will  also  be 
obtained  in  regard  to  housing  facilities;  the  possibilities  of  sound 
investment  of  savings ;  the  use,  tendency,  and  character  of  foreign- 
language  newspapers;  lands  available  for  the  foreign  born;  foreign - 
language  organizations  and  lodges;  educational  opportunities  for 
immigrants;  the  extent  to  wdiich  aliens  have  become  public  charges 
upon  the  charitable  or  penal  institutions  of  the  State;  the  various 
races  in  Wilmington  studied  separately;  and  the  religious  influences 
j)revailing  among  the  various  groups  of  the  foreign  born. 

The  preliminary  census  of  aliens  was  used  in  a  conference  held  in 
December  by  the  chief  executives  of  a  large  number  of  industries,  the 
governor,  and  the  secretary  of  state,  under  the  auspices  of  the  Service 
Citizens  of  Delaware.  This  conference  appointed  a  committee  to 
carry  on  aggressively  a  State-wide  Americanization  program.  In 
addition,  the  industries  were  asked  to  consider  whether  an  Ameri- 
canization program  could  be  adapted  to  conditions  of  the  various 
plants  including  the  keeping  of  a  record  of  aliens ;  the  naming  of  an 
Americanization  representative  in  each  plant;  the  appointment  of 
plant  conmiittees  of  employees  to  advance  Americanization  worlc; 
cooperation  in  night-school  work;  the  establishment  of  factory 
classes;  and  the  giving  of  preference  to  aliens  who  learn  English. 
For  the  purpose  of  providing  teachers,  courses  have  been  held  and 
persons  specially  trained  for  teaching  aliens  have  been  graduated. 

In  order  to  carry  on  the  work  of  Americanization,  the  State  coun- 
cil of  defense  has  had  a  bill  prepared  providing  for  State  aid  in  the 
education  of  persons  unable  to  speak  English. — [Journal  of  State 
council  of  defense,  February,  1919.] 

An  act,  approved  April  2,  provides  for  the  establishment  of 
evening  classes  for  the  instruction  of  non-English-speaking  persons 
in  English  and  in  the  institutions  and  forms  of  government  of  the 
United  States  and  the  State.  Fifteen  thousand  dollars  is  appro- 
priated for  the  purposes  of  this  act. — [Laws  of  Delaw^are,  1919,  ch. 
158.] 

The  program  of  the  Service  Citizens  of  Delaware  for  next  year 
includes :  The  organization  of  complaint  and  information  centers  in 
the  foreign  sections  of  the  cities;  the  development  of  a  clear-cut 
American  policy  on  the  part  of  industries,  and  its  correlation  with 
the  work  of  the  night  schools:  the  compilation  of  a  booklet  setting 


56  UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTEUCTION. 

forth  in  simple  English  the  sort  of  information  about  America  and 
the  local  community  that  every  resident  ought  to  have ;  the  planning 
and  financing  of  community  gatherings  where  native  and  foreign- 
born  residents  will  be  brought  closer  together;  the  financing  and 
directing  of  teachers'  follow-up  calling,  with  a  continuation  of  the 
study  of  attendance  records;  and  the  special  work  with  foreign 
mothers  in  their  own  homes,  to  be  planned  and  executed  in  the 
closest  conjunction  with  the  night  schools  but  not  confined  to  purely 
educational  work. — [Bulletin,  Six  Months  of  Americanization  in 
Delaw^are,  Wilmington,  Del.,  September,  1919.] 

The  State  council  of  defense  announces  a  teachers'  training  course 
in  the  city  of  Wilmington,  for  training  teachers  to  instruct  aliens. 
A  census  of  the  industrial  concerns  of  Wilmington  was  made,  and 
the  matter  was  being  taken  up  with  private  citizens  with  a  view  to 
providing  means  for  the  instruction  of  the  aliens.  An  effort  was 
also  being  made  to  make  it  compulsory  upon  aliens  to  attend  the 
night  schools. 

The  State  council  of  defense  will  continue  its  efforts  to  aid  the 
Bureau  of  Naturalization  to  accomplish  the  requirements  whicli 
Congress  has  placed  upon  it.  The  public  schools  will  assist  in  every 
Avay  possible. — [Compiled  from  forthcoming  report  of  director  of 
citizenship  to  Commissioner  of  Naturalization,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  La- 
bor, 1920.] 

In  Wilmington,  beginning  February  17,  classes  in  English  are  to 
be  held  in  public  schools,  in  rooms  offered  by  the  Ukrainian  Civic 
Committee  of  South  Wilmington,  at  the  United  States  Employment 
Service  Bureau,  at  the  Italian  Neighborhood  House,  and  other  places. 
This  Avork  will  be  financed  by  special  funds  pending  provision  by  the 
legislature.  A  "  Learn-English  "  week  is  being  observed  by  leading 
alien  residents,  endeavoring  to  inform  every  alien  resident  of  Wil- 
mington of  the  opportunity  these  schools  afford.  School  children  of 
non-English-speaking  homes  will  carry  a  letter  to  their  parents,  ex- 
plaining why  English  should  be  known.  There  are  to  be  classes  in 
the  immigrant  communities  outside  the  city.  Most  of  the  classes 
will  be  at  night,  but  those  in  the  factories  will  be  late  in  the  after- 
noon. A  midday  class  may  be  established  for  night  and  restaurant 
w^orkers.  It  has  been  found  necessary  to  establish  a  waiting  list  for 
these  classes,  so  marked  is  the  interest  shown  in  the  project  by 
foreign  born. 

The  Americanization  institute,  conducted  recently  by  the  Stato 
council  of  defense  and  the  Wilmington  board  of  education,  has 
trained  many  persons  for  this  work,  and  preference  will  be  given 
those  who  have  received  a  certificate  for  that  course.  The  highest, 
possible  standard  of  teaching  will  be  provided. — [Christian  Science 
Monitor,  Boston,  Mass.,  Feb.  7,  1919.] 


DELAWARE.  57 

"  Back-to-School "  Drive. 

The  State  council  of  defense  is  instrumental  in  promoting  the 
*'  Back-to-school "  drive  in  Delaware.  It  is  urging  that  boys  and 
girls  be  persuaded  not  to  let  the  high  wages  being  paid  make  them 
unmindful  of  the  future,  when  special  training  will  be  required. — 
[Journal  of  State  council  of  defense,  February,  1919.] 

The  epidemic  interrupted  the  "  Back-to-school "  drive.  However, 
the  newspapers  spread  general  publicity  and  women's  clubs  were 
asked  to  introduce  it  where  possible.  A  volunteer  census  of  school 
children  was  taken  throughout  the  State.  The  committee  reports 
increased  interest  in  education  but  no  tangible  results  from  the 
drive. — [Report  of  child  conservation  section  of  the  Field  Division 
to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Oct.  1,  1918,  to  July  1,  1919.] 

Council  of  Defense. 

An  act,  approved  April  8,  creating  the  State  council  of  defense, 
provides  that  the  council  shall  continue  in  existence  through  the 
duration  of  the  present  war  and  for  six  months  after  the  ratification 
of  the  treaty  of  peace. — [Laws  of  Delaware,  1918,  ch.  3.] 

Employment. 

Employment  offices  maintained  in  Delaware  by  the  Federal  Gov- 
ernment in  cooperation  with  State  and  local  organizations  report 
that  during  the  six  months'  period  from  January  1  to  June  30,  1919, 
14,353  persons  were  registered  who  were  seeking  employment ;  12,317 
requests  for  employees  were  received ;  and  8,206  persons  were  placed 
by  these  offices. — [Compiled  from  statistics  furnished  by  U.  S.  Em- 
X^loyment  Service,  Aug.  8,  1919.] 

The  War  and  Navy  Departmenfs'  citation  has  been  issued  to  74 
firms  in  Delaware,  these  employers,  having  assured  the  War  and 
Navy  Departments  that  they  will  reemploy  everybody  who  formerly 
worked  with  them  and  left  to  serve  in  the  Army  and  Navy  during 
the  World  War. — [Memorandum  from  assistant  to  the  Secretary  of 
War  in  the  replacement  of  service  men  to  civil  life,  to  U.  S.  Council 
of  National  Defense,  Nov.  20,  1919.] 

The  work  of  securing  employment  for  returning  soldiers  and  sail- 
ors is  being  given  impetus  as  the  result  of  official  action  taken  by  the 
Manufacturers'  Association  and  the  Employers'  Association  of  Wil- 
mington. A  systematic  campaign  will  be  waged  by  these  organiza- 
tions to  provide  every  ex-service  man  with  suitable  employment. 
Every  member  of  these  organizations  has  been  living  up  to  his 
agreement  reached  with  former  employees  when  they  entered  the 
service,  that  their  old  positions  or  others  equally  as  good  would  be 
available  on  their  return. — [Every  Evening,  Wilmington,  Del.,  Apr. 
10,  1919.] 


58  UNITED  STATES  EEADJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTIIUCTION. 

Highways. 

The  ch-ief  engineer  of  the  State  advises  that  the  State  has  about 
$12,000,000  available  to  be  expended  for  road  purposes. — [Bulletin 
1^0.  46,  Highwaj^s  Transport  Committee,  U.  S.  Council  of  National 
Defense.] 

An  act,  approved  April  21,  provides  that  the  State  highway 
department  shall  set  aside  annually  $300,000  to  be  offered  in  equal 
portions  to  the  three  counties  for  road  improvement  on  condition 
that  an  equal  amount  is  contributed  by  the  counties. — [Laws  of 
Delaware,  1919,  ch.  70.] 

Two  acts,  approved  April  21,  authorize  New  Castle  County  to 
borrow  $500,000  and  $200,000,  respectively,  to  be  expended  for  the 
completion  of  the  Lincoln  Highway  and  for  the  reconstruction  of 
other  roads  in  the  county. — [Laws  of  Delaware,  1919,  chs.  97  and  98.] 

On  October  1,  1919,  five  highway  projects  had  been  approved  in  the 
State,  involving  the  improvement  of  32.15  miles  of  road  at  a  total 
estimated  cost  of  $1,532,850,  of  which  the  Federal  Government  is  re- 
quested to  pay  $272,603.78,  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the 
Federal-aid  road  act  of  July  11,  1916,  as  amended  by  the  act  of 
February  28, 1919. — [Statement  prepared  by  Bureau  of  Public  Roads, 
U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture.] 
Home  Gardens. 

The  community  garden  work  in  Wilmington,  conducted  as  a  part 
of  the  activities  of  the  State  council  of  defense  during  the  war,  has 
been  taken  over  permanently  by  the  garden  club.  Every  available 
vacant  lot  is  under  cultivation.  The  gardeners  pay  a  nominal  fee, 
50  cents  for  a  standard-size  plat  and  50  cents  each  for  plowing 
and  fertilizing,  and  are  permitted  to  buy  seeds  at  cost.  All  over- 
head and  incidental  expenses  are  borne  by  the  garden  club. 
Throughout  the  State  the  stimulation  of  food  production  has  been 
very  actively  carried  on  by  all  the  agricultural  agencies,  both  State 
and  private. — [Letter  from  the  governor  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National 
Defense,  Aug.  18,  1919.] 
Information  Service  for  Returned  Service  Men. 

The  local  branches  of  the  American  Red  Cross  are  cooperating 
with  other  organizations  in  establishing  contacts  with  service  men 
for  the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  adjustment  of  their  allotments, 
allowance  accounts,  compensation  and  claims,  and  the  reinstatement 
of  lapsed  or  canceled  insurance.  It  is  the  desire  of  the  Bureau  of 
War  Risk  Insurance  that  all  inquiries  of  this  nature  be  cleared 
through  the  home-service  sections  of  the  American  Red  Cross.  Up 
to  April  1, 1919,  the  American  Red  Cross  had  organized  in  Delaware 
46  units  with  a  total  of  108  workers. — [Statement  prepared  by 
American  National  Red  Cross  for  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
November,  1919.] 


DELAWARE.  59 

Land  Settlement. 

The  matter  of  soldier  settlement  in  the  State  is  in  the  hands  of  the 
reconstruction  commission  created  by  the  act  of  April  2,  1919. — • 
[Memorandum  from  Eeclamation  Service,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  the  Interior 
to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  July  21,  1919.] 

Public  Works. 

Reports  received  in  January,  1919,  cover  12  public  building  and 
construction  projects  which  were  under  way  or  contemplated  in  the 
State,  aggregating-  an  estimated  value  of  $0,305,000.  Of  this  num- 
ber 8  were  street  improvements,  estimated  to  cost  $5,355,000;  and  1 
school,  estimated  to  cost  $500,000.— [Statistics  compiled  by  Division 
of  Public  Works  and  Construction  Developments,  IJ.  S.  Dept.  of 
Labor,  Apr.  17,  1919.] 

The  sum  of  $2,000,000  has  been  given  by  a  member  of  the  new 
board  of  education  to  supplement  State  funds  in  order  that  the 
building  of  consolidated  schools  throughout  the  State  may  be  greatly 
facilitated.  The  fund  is  to  be  apportioned,  in  order  of  application, 
to  districts  which  raise  half  the  money  needed  for  the  construction 
of  a  proposed  school. — [Letter  from  the  governor  to  U.  S.  Council  of 
National  Defense,  Aug.  18,  1919.] 

Reconstruction  Commission. 

Under  the  terms  of  an  act,  approved  April  2,  a  reconstruction 
commission  consisting  of  seven  members  was  appointed  by  the 
governor  for  two  years,  with  the  duty  of  devising  and  putting  into 
operation  plans  for  child  welfare  and  community  organization, 
studying  subjects  to  be  considered  in  view  of  the  change  from  the 
activities  of  war  to  those  of  peace,  and  making  such  recommenda- 
tions for  desirable  legislation.  The  members  of  the  connnission  are 
to  serve  without  pay,  but  a  sum  of  $25,000  is  appropriated  for  the 
payment  of  employees  and  other  expenses. — [Laws  of  Delaware, 
1919,  ch.  GG.] 

The  executive  committee  of  the  State  commissions  on  education, 
health,  reconstruction,  and  survey  named  by  the  legislature  will 
undertake  the  work  of  a  federated  committee,  inasmuch  as  it  will  be 
the  clearing  office  for  all  details  which  can  be  handled  by  a  central 
body..  The  committee  will  make  recommendations  to  the  separate 
commissions  as  to  the  work  which  can  be  done  by  their  organiza- 
tions.— [Every  Evening.  Wilmington,  Del.,  May  17,  1919.] 

Reconstruction  Problems. 

Among  the  problems  confronting  the  State  during  the  reconstruc- 
tion period  are  the  subjects  of  health  preservation,  advancement  of 
education,  sound  industrial  development,  agriculture  development, 
road  improvement,  and  good  and  effective  State  and  local  govern- 
ment.    The   women   are   being   urged   to    devote   thoughtful    con- 


60  UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

si  deration  to  matters  pertaining  to  the  welfare  of  children,  such  as 
their  education,  and  the  care  of  babies. — [Journal  of  State  coun- 
cil of  defense,  February,  1919.] 

Tax  Exemption  for  Service  Men. 

An  act,  approved  March  20,  provides  that  honorably  discharged 
soldiers  and  sailors  disabled  in  service  and  resident  of  the  State 
shall  be  exempt  from  the  provisions  of  law  requiring  hucksters 
and  peddlers  to  obtain  licenses.  They  are  required,  however,  to  carry 
their  discharge  papers  in  lieu  of  a  license. — [Laws  of  Delaware, 
1919,  ch.  24.] 
Vocational  Reeducation  of  Disabled  Service  Men. 

In  accordance  with  section  2  of  the  Federal  vocational  rehabili- 
tation act  of  June  27,  1918,  as  amended  July  11,  1919,  arrangements 
had  been  made  up  to  October  25,  1919,  by  the  Federal  Board  for 
Vocational  Education  with  two  educational  institutions  in  the.  State 
for  the  reeducation  of  service  men  to  overcome  the  handicap  of  dis- 
abilities incurred  in  the  service.  Two  such  men  have  been  sent  to 
these  institutions  for  training. — [Compiled  from  statement  prepared 
by  Eehabilitation  Division,  Federal  Board  for  Vocational  Educa- 
tion.] 

DISTRICT   OF   COLUMBIA. 

"  Back-to-School "  Drive. 

Some  very  attractive  posters  for  the  "  Back-to-school "  drive  were 
made  by  the  high-school  and  grade  students.  A  prize  of  $5  was 
given  for  the  best  poster.  Many  of  these  posters  were  displayed  at 
a  child  welfare  exhibit. 

As  a  result  of  the  drive  some  children  have  returned  to  school;  the 
teachers  of  the  business  high-school  have  adopted  a  resolution  to 
urge  the  return  of  every  child  leaving  their  school. — [Report  of  child 
conservation  section  of  the  Field  Division  to  U.  S.  Council  of 
National  Defense,  Oct.  1,  1918,  to  July  1,  1919.] 

Building  Campaign. 

The  matter  of  actively  taking  up  building  operations  has  been  con- 
sidered by  the  committee  on  the  stabilization  of  the  building  industry 
in  Washington,  appointed  by  the  District  Commissioners.  The  com- 
mittee has  reported  that  manufacturers  and  dealers  in  materials 
entering  into  building  construction  have  agreed  to  offer  the  very 
lowest  prices  possible  on  their  products,  protecting  the  buyers  against 
any  advance  in  prices,  and  further  agreeing  to  give  the  benefit  of  any 
decline  in  prices  that  may  occur  during  the  life  of  a  contract.  The 
general  contractors  and  subcontractors  offer  to  sacrifice  any  profit 
above  that  essential  to  maintain  their  business  in  safety.  Labor  has 
indicated  a  scale  of  prices  upon  which  it  is  willing  to  stand  and 


DISTEICT  OF   COLUMBIA.  61 

beyond  which  no  increases  will  be  made  during  the  year  1919,  and 
has  stated  it  desires  only  to  be  granted  a  wage  that  will  permit  a 
normal  livelihood  for  the  employee  and  his  family.  The  general 
conclusion  is  that  it  is  not  likely  that  building  which  is  needed  can  be 
done  more  cheaply  by  waiting,  and  the  very  great  increase  in  the 
number  of  permits  issued  this  year  as  compared  with  last  indicates 
that  this  is  the  general  feeling.  This  should  have  a  great  influence 
in  providing  employment. — [Letter  from  chairman.  District  council 
of  defense,  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  May  14,  1919.] 

Private  building  enterprises  particularly  the  construction  of  build- 
ings for  housing  practically  stopped  during  the  war  period,  but  since 
the  signing  of  the  armistice  activity  along  these  lines  has  greatly 
increased.  From  December,  1918,  to  June  30,  1919,  the  building  de- 
partment has  issued  permits  for  619  dwellings  with  an  estimated 
value  of  $2,973,525,  and  for  18  apartments  with  an  estimated  value 
of  $2,122,000.  Permits  for  other  building  construction  issued  by 
the  building  department  involved  construction  estimated  to  cost 
$7,126,795.  The  depression  in  building  operations  was  not  relieved 
until  the  advanced  spring  of  1919,  since  which  time  it  has  gained 
in  volume  each  month. — [Report  from  District  Commissioners  to 
U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Aug.  18,  1919.] 

Council  of  Defense. 

The  District  council  of  defense  has  not  been  dissolved.  It  is 
inactive  but  subject  to  call  by  the  chairman.  The  housing  activities 
have  been  transferred  to  the  housing  corporation. 

The  council  assisted  in  the  appointment  of  a  clean-up  and  paint-up 
committee.  A  representative  of  the  council  has  helped  find  employ- 
ment for  soldiers  and  sailors. 

The  council  at  a  meeting  March  29  decided  to  help  the  United 
States  Employment  Service  by  the  appointment  of  three  clerks  whose 
chief  occupation  should  be  the  finding  of  employment  for  discharged 
soldiers  and  sailors. — [Reply  from  District  council  of  defense  to 
questionnaire  of  the  Field  Division,  IJ.  S.  Council  of  National 
Defense,  June  25,  1919.] 

Employment. 

A  committee  has  been  formed  of  interested  citizens  for  the  pur- 
pose of  finding  suitable  positions  for  15,000  returned  District  of 
Columbia  men.  On  their  own  initiative  the  police  have  been  mak- 
ing a  census  to  secure  the  number  and  kind  of  workmen  needed  for 
places  now  open.  Business  men  in  Washington  have  been  asked 
to  cooperate  in  order  to  give  the  practical  help  to  be  extended  by 
this  committee. — [Post,  Washington,  D.  C,  Dec.  14,  1918.] 

The  board  of  management  of  the  bureau  for  returning  soldiers, 
sailors,  and  marines  has  issued  a  special  appeal  to  the  citizens  of 


62  UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

Washington  to  aid  in  finding  employment  for  returning  soldiers. 
It.  is  stated  that  the  number  of  discharged  service  men  seeking  em- 
ployment is  growing  greater  while  the  opportunities  are  fewer  every 
day.  About  6,000  District  soldiers  have  returned  and  are  now  at 
work.  It  is  estimated  that  there  are  about  8,500  j^et  to  return.  Out 
of  the  G,000  soldiers  vvho  have  returned,  about  2,800  found  positions 
for  themselves  or  returned  to  former  positions.  Approximately 
3,200  were  aided  by  the  Federal  employment  service  and  the  city's 
bureau  for  aiding  returning  soldiers  in  obtaining  work. — [Post, 
Washington,  D. C,  Mar.  20,  1919.] 

The  local  brancli  of  the  United  States  Employment  Service  will 
be  able  to  continue  the  work  of  finding  jobs  for  returning  soldiers 
and  sailors  as  a  result  of  the  District  council  of  defense  voting  to 
recommend  to  the  District  Commissioners  that  they  employ  three 
persons  out  of  the  fund  appropriated  for  the  council,  and  that  these 
three  be  assigned  to  serve  with  the  local  employment  service. — [Star, 
Washington,  D.  C,  Mar.  30,  1919.] 

At  a  meeting  of  the  women's  federated  council  on  employment, 
cooperating  with  the  board  of  management  of  the  Federal  employ- 
ment bureau,  it  was  decided  to  make  a  canvass  of  the  business 
houses  of  the  District,  under  the  supervision  of  the  federation  of 
women's  clubs,  to  locate  available  jobs  for  returning  soldiers  and 
sailors.— [Star,  Washington,  D.  C,  Apr.  G,  1919.] 

Employment  offices  maintained  in  the  District  of  Columbia  by  the 
Federal  Government  in  cooperation  with  State  and  local  organiza- 
tions report  that  during  the  six  months'  period  from  January  1  to 
June  30,  1919,  33,175  persons  w^ere  registered  who  were  seeking  em- 
ployment; 38,855  requests  for  employees  were  received;  and  30,873 
persons  Avere  placed  by  these  offices. — [Compiled  from  statistics  fur- 
nished by  IT.  S.  Employment  Service,  Aug.  8, 1919.] 

The  District  of  Columbia  has  been  able  to  reemploy  all  of  its 
officials  and  employees  who  left  the  District  service  to  enter  the 
military  service,  and  the  construction  work  contemplated  during 
the  season  will  furnish  emplo3anent  to  a  large  degree  for  mechanics 
and  labor,  both  skilled  and  unskilled. — [Report  from  District  Com- 
ruissioners  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Aug.  18,  1919.] 

The  War  and  Navy  Departments'  citation  has  been  issued  to  341 
firms  in  the  District  of  Columbia,  these  emploj-ers  having  assured 
the  War  and  Navy  Departments  that  they  will  reemploy  everybody 
who  formerly  worked  with  them  and  left  to  serve  in  the  Army  or 
Navy  during  the  World  War. — [Memorandum  from  assistant  to  the 
Secretary  of  War  in  the  replacement  of  service  men  to  civil  life, 
to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Nov.  20,  1919.] 


DISTRICT  OF   COLUMBIA.  63 

Housing  Accommodations. 

Congress  appropriated  $100,000,000  for  the  purpose  of  building 
homes  for  war  workers,  and  $10,000,000  of  this  sum  was  for  the 
District  of  Cohnnbia,  but  10  days  after  the  signing  of  the  armistice 
a  Senate  resohition  ordered  that  all  such  building  in  Washington 
not  yet  95  per  cent  completed  and  all  building  outside  of  Washing- 
ton not  TO  per  cent  completed  should  not  be  finished.  As  the  hous- 
ing conditions  in  Washington  were  wretched,  the  Senate  reconsidered 
its  action  and  permitted  the  houses  in  the  District  to  be  finished. 
Twelve  large  buildings,  with  two  wings  each,  capable  of  accommo- 
dating 1,800  women  have  been  constructed. — [Report  of  the  Con- 
sumers' League  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Aug.  4,  1919.] 
Information  Service  for  Returned  Service  Men. 

The  local  branches  of  the  American  Red  Cross  are  cooperating 
with  other  organizations  in  establishing  contacts  with  service  men 
for  the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  adjustment  of  their  allotments, 
allowance  accounts,  compensation  and  claims,  and  the  reinstatement 
of  lapsed  or  canceled  insurance.  It  is  the  desire  of  the  Bureau  of 
War  Risk  Insurance  that  all  inquiries  of  this  nature  be  cleared 
through  the  home-service  sections  of  the  American  Red  Cross.  Up 
to  April  1,  1919,  the  American  Red  Cross  has  organized  in  the  Dis- 
trict of  Columbia  one  unit  with  a  total  of  TG  workers. — [Statement 
prepared  by  xVmerican  National  Red  Cross  for  U.  S.  Council  of  Na- 
tional Defense,  November,  1919.] 
Minimum  Wage  Law. 

A  minimum  wage  law,  drawn  by  the  Consumers'  League,  was 
passed  by  Congress  and  signed  by  the  President  on  September  19, 
1918.  A  significant  feature  was  the  hearty  indorsement  given  b}^ 
the  merchants  and  manufacturers  at  the  hearings  before  the  two 
committees  of  Congress.  As  a  result  of  this  legislation,  women  wh(j 
left  the  establishments  of  the  District  to  work  for  the  Government 
during  the  war  will  not  be  forced  to  return  to  their  old  positions  at 
a  wage  less  than  a  minimum  standard  of  living.  Already  rates  of 
$15.50  a  week  have  been  established  in  the  printing  trades,  and  a 
rate  of  $16.50  a  week  will  go  into  effect  in  all  retail  establishments 
of  the  District  on  November  1,  1919.  It  is  hoped  that  the  passage 
of  this  law  for  the  District  will  stimulate  State  legislatures  to  fol- 
low the  example  set  by  Congress  for  the  Capital. — [Report  of  Con- 
sumers' League  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Aug.  4,  1919.] 
Public  Works. 

Anticipating  a  more  or  less  serious  condition  of  unemployment  in 
the  District  with  the  return  of  thousands  of  soldiers  discharged 
from  the  service,  and  with  the  readjustment  to  a  peace  basis  of  Gov- 
ernment work  as  well  as  private  industries,  the  District  Commis- 
sioners have  planned  an  extensive  program  of  street  improvement, 


64  UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

sidewalk  construction,  etc.,  in  order  to  provide  work  for  as  large  a 
number  as  possible  of  unemployed  men. — [Star,  Washington,  D.  C, 
Feb.  14,  1919.] 
School  Gardens. 

School  gardens  are  being  conducted  in  the  city  of  Washington. 
During  the  season  of  1919,  16,603  children  were  enrolled. — [Prepared 
from  material  furnished  by  U.  S.  School  Garden  Army  to  U.  S. 
Council  of  National  Defense,  Nov.  1,  1919.] 
Vocational  Education  of  Service  Hen. 

In  order  to  give  the  men  a  general  view  of  the  advantages  and 
disadvantages  of  various  occupations,  a  supplemental  study  was 
made  through  the  vocational  department  of  the  War  Camp  Com- 
munity Service,  of  the  requirements  and  opportunities  of  agricul- 
tural, commercial,  industrial,  and  professional  pursuits.  A  special 
worker  was  stationed  in  one  of  the  War  Camp  Community  Service 
bureaus  for  personal  service  to  advise  the  men  in  regard  to  vocational 
education,  thereby  maintaining  a  vocational  counsel  service  in  con- 
nection with  the  information  booths. — [Report  of  War  Camp  Com- 
munity Service  for  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  August,  1919.] 
Vocational  Reeducation  of  Disabled  Service  Men. 

In  accordance  with  section  2  of  the  Federal  vocational  rehabili- 
tation act  of  June  27,  1918,  as  amended  July  11,  1919,  arrangements 
had  been  made  up  to  October  25,  1919,  by  the  Federal  Board  for 
Vocational  Education  w^ith  17  educational  institutions  in  the  District 
for  the  reeducation  of  service  men  to  overcome  the  handicap  of  dis- 
abilities incurred  in  the  service.  A  total  of  228  such  men  have  been 
sent  to  these  institutions  for  training.  Arrangements  have  also  been 
made  by  this  board  with  15  industrial  establishments  in  the  District 
whereby  the  latter  have  undertaken  to  train  a  total  of  17  disabled 
men. — [Compiled  from  statement  prepared  by  Rehabilitation  Divi- 
sion, Federal  Board  for  Vocational  Education.] 
Welfare  Service  of  the  United  States  War  Department. 

A  welfare  service  has  been  established  in  the  United  States  War 
Department  in  Washington  comprising:  Personal  service,  parti- 
cularly for  those  employees  who  live  away  from  home,  by  providing 
emergency  financial  aid,  assistance  in  procuring  suitable  places  to 
live,  and  in  problems  of  personal  health,  etc.;  physical  welfare,  by 
providing  nurses,  making  arrangements  for  extra  feeding,  commu- 
nicating with  the  families  of  the  patients,  and  arranging  for  hospital 
care,  etc.;  social  activities,  by  cooperating  with  the  various  existing 
agencies  now  furnishing  recreational  and  social  activities;  and 
efficiency,  by  putting  workers  in  touch  with  existing  educational 
activities  which  may  be  utilized  at  a  nominal  cost. — [Report  of  the 
Welfare  Service,  U.  S.  War  Department  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National 
Defense,  Aug.  13,*  1919.] 


FLORIDA.  65 

FLORIDA. 

Council  of  Defense. 

The  State  council  of  defense  was  dissolved  in  November,  1919. 
County  councils  were  also  dissolved,  and  no  attempt  has  been  made 
to  transform  community  councils  into  permanent  organizations.  The 
secretary  of  the  former  council  is  doing  what  he  can  in  that  capacity 
to  assist  in  the.  employment  of  soldiers  and  sailors.  No  legal  aid  is 
given  to  these  men,  but  assistance  is  given  in  the  apprehension  of 
deserters. — [Reply  from  State  council  of  defense  to  questionnaire 
of  the  Field  Division,  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  June  25, 
1919.] 
Employment. 

The  governor  at  the  reconstruction  conference  in  Washington 
stated  that  Florida  could  give  employment  to  all  who  applied,  pro- 
yided  they  were  of  the  right  kind.  He  said  that  2,000,000  laborers 
could  be  used  in  the  truck  gardens,  orange  groves,  and  fisheries  of 
Florida.— [Sun,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Mar.  6,  1919.] 

The  governor  does  not  believe  it  will  be  necessary  to  provide  em- 
ployment bureaus  in  the  State  to  balance  the  curtailment  of  the  work 
of  the^ United  States  Employment  Service. — [Letter  from  the  gov- 
ernor to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  IT,  1919.] 

Employment  offices  maintained  in  Florida  by  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment in  cooperation  with  State  and  local  organizations  report  that 
during  the  six  months'  period  from  January  1  to  June  30,  1919, 
14,048  persons  were  registered  who  were  seeking  employment ;  13,173 
requests  for  employees  were  received ;  and  10,000  persons  were  placed 
by  these  offices. — [Compiled  from  statistics  furnished  by  U.  S.  Em- 
ployment Service,  Aug.  8,  1919.] 

The  War  and  Navy  Departments'  citation  has  been  issued  to  408 
firms  in  Florida,  these  employers  having  assured  the  War  and  Navy 
Departments  that  they  will  reemploy  everybody  who  formerly 
worked  with  them  and  left  to  serve  in  the  Army  and  Navy  during  the 
fWorld  War. — [Memorandum  from  assistant  to  the  Secretary  of  War 
in  the  replacement  of  service  men  to  civil  life,  to  U.  S.  Council  of 
National  Defense,  Nov.  20,  1919.] 

Highways. 

The  State  road  commissioner  advises  that  the  legislature  will 
be  urged  to  submit  to  the  people  of  the  State  a  proposed  amend- 
ment to  the  constitution  authorizing  the  issuance  of  road  improve- 
ment bonds  up  to  5  per  cent  of  assessed  valuation  of  all  taxable 
property.  The  legislature  is  expected  to  provide  for  meeting  the 
$3,000,000  Federal-aid  fund  by  tax  levy  and  labor  of  all  State  con- 
victs.— [Bulletin  No.  47,  Highways  Transport  Committee,  U.  S. 
Council  of  National  Defense.] 
134286"— 20 5 


66  UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

The  State  road  department  is  planning  to  use  tlie  80  Army  motor 
trucks  assigned  to  it  by  the  Federal  Government  for  highway  con- 
struction work  as  quickly  as  they  arrive.  The  recent  act  of  the  legis- 
lature abolishing  the  convict  lease  sj^stem  and  converting  the  convicts' 
work  to  the  roads  will  greatly  facilitate  building  operations.  More 
than  $8,000,000  Avill  be  available  for  further  permanent  road  con- 
struction in  Florida,  and  the  State  road  department  is  planning  ex- 
tensive work  in  all  parts  of  the  State.  One  of  the  earliest  projects 
of  size  will  be  the  completion  of  a  truck-line  highway  from  Jackson- 
ville to  Pensacola,  traversing  the  northern  section  of  the  State  and 
linking  the  extreme  eastern  and  western  cities. — [Christian  Science 
Monitor,  Boston,  Mass.,  June  5,  1919.] 

On  October  1,  1919,  19  highway  projects  had  been  approved  in  the 
State,  involving  the  improvement  of  147.81  miles  of  road  at  a  total 
estimated  cost  of  $1,620,444.30,  of  which  the  Federal  Government  is 
requested  to  pay  $784,049.28  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the 
Federal-aid  road  act  of  July  11,  1916,  as  amended  by  the  act  of  Feb- 
ruary 28,  1919. — [Statement  prepared  by  Bureau  of  Public  Roads, 
U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture.] 
Housing  Accommodations. 

At  Sarasota  a  lumber  corporation  is  building  a  complete  town  of 
100  houses  for  its  employees. — [Housing  Betterment,  New  York,  N. 
Y.,  February,  1919.] 
Information  Service  for  Returned  Service  Men. 

The  local  branches  of  the  American  Red  Cross  are  cooperating 
with  other  organizations  in  establishing  contacts  with  service  men 
for  the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  adjustment  of  their  allotments, 
allowance  accounts,  compensation  and  claims,  and  the  reinstatement 
of  lapsed  or  canceled  insurance.  It  is  the  desire  of  the  Bureau  of 
War  Risk  Insurance  that  all  inquiries  of  this  nature  be  cleared 
through  the  home  service  sections  of  the  American  Red  Cross.  Up 
to  April  1,  1919,  the  American  Red  Cross  had  organized  in  Florida 
150  units  with  a  total  of  215  workers. — [Statement  prepared  by 
American  National  Red  Cross  for  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
November,  1919.] 
Land  Settlement. 

A  bill  has  been  enacted  by  the  legislature  authorizing  the  establish- 
ment of  an  internal  improvement  board  to  use  State  lands  for  soldier 
settlement  and  to  cooperate  with  the  Federal  Government  in*  such 
work. — [Memorandum  from  Reclamation  Service,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  the 
Interior  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  July  1,  1919.] 
Public  Works. 

Reports  received  in  January,  1919,  cover  six  public  building  and 
construction  projects  which  were  under  way  or  contemplated  in  the 


GEORGIA.  67 

State,  aggregating  an  estimated  value  of  $850,000.     Of 'this  number 
four  were  street  improvements,  estimated  to  cost  $220,000. — [Statistics 
compiled  by  Division  of  Public  Works  and  Construction  Develop- 
ments, U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor,  Apr.  IT,  1919.] 
School  Gardens. 

School  gardens  are  being  conducted  in  39  cities  and  towns,  the  total 
present  enrollment  in  the  State  being  7,302. — [Prepared  from  mate- 
rial furnished  by  U.  S.  School  Garden  Army  to  U.  S.  Council  of 
National  Defense,  Nov.  1,  1919.] 

Vocational  Education. 

The  State  will  provide  for  adequate  vocational  education,  and  an 
ajjpropriation  will  be  made  by  the  legislature  to  meet  the  Federal 
aid  under  the  Smith-Hughes  Act,  if  a  measure  recently  passed  by  the 
senate  meets  the  approval  of  the  lower  branch  and  the  governor. — 
[Tribune.  Tampa.  Fla.,  May  1,  1919.] 
Vocational  Keeducation  of  Disabled  Service  Men. 

In  accordance  with  section  2  of  the  Federal  vocational  rehabili- 
tation act  of  June  27,  1918,  as  amended  July  11,  1919,  arrangements 
had  been  made  up  to  October  25,  1919,  by  the  Federal  Board  for 
Vocational  Education  with  eight  educational  institutions  in  the 
State  for  the  reeducation  of  service  men  to  overcome  the  handicap 
of  disabilities  incurred  in  the  service.  A  total  of  41  such  men  have 
been  sent  to  these  institutions  for  training.  Arrangements  have  also 
been  made  by  this  board  with  two  industrial  establisliments  in  the 
State  whereby  the  latter  have  undertaken  to  train  two  disabled 
men. — [Compiled  from  statement  prepared  by  Rehabilitation  Divi- 
sion, Federal  Board  for  Vocational  Education.] 

GEORGIA. 

Americanization. 

The  principal  of  the  Americanization  night  school  at  Atlanta 
thinks  they  have  one  of  the  most  wide-awake  night  schools  in  the 
country ;  and  he  attributes  it  to  the  systematic  visiting  of  the  people, 
particularly  the  foreignei*s,  by  the  teachers  and  other  persons  who 
feel  the  importance  of  this  w^ork  of  Americanization. — [Compiled 
from  forthcoming  report  of  director  of  citizenship  to  Commissioner 
of  Naturalization,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor,  1920.] 
ConimiLnity  Councils. 

lender  terms  of  an  act,  approved  August  18,  the  Community  Service 
Commission  of  Georgia  is  to  consist  of  two  members,  one  of  whom 
shall  be  a  woman,  from  each  congressional  district  of  the  State. 
This  commission  may  establish  community  boards  of  five,  seven,  or 
nine  membere  in  all  counties  and  municipalities  of  Georgia.  The 
duties  of  the  boards  include  cooperation  with  the  State  commission 


68  UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

and  assistance  to  county,  township,  village,  and  school  officials  on 
behalf  of  public  welfare. — [Acts  of  Georgia,  1919.] 
Council  of  Defense. 

The  State  division  of  the  Woman's  Committee,  United  States 
Council  of  National  Defense,  is  not  completely  amalgamated  with  the 
State  council  of  defense.  The  State  heads  are  united  but  not  the 
workers  in  the  counties.  The  State  council  will  continue  until  after 
the  meeting  of  the  legislature  in  July,  but  it  has  not  yet  been  deter- 
mined whether  the  State  division  will  continue  after  July.  There  is 
a  strong  feeling  that  it  should  continue,  since  the  woman's  commit- 
tee is  needed  to  reach  all  the  people.  The  clubs  are  only  able  to  reach 
;i5,000  out  of  the  300,000  women  of  the  State. — [Statement  of  chair- 
man. State  division  of  the  Woman's  Committee,  U.  S.  Council  of 
National  Defense,  at  a  conference,  Washington,  D.  C,  Feb.  12, 1919.] 

Employment. 

Everything  is  being  done  and  will  continue  to  be  done  in  the  State 
to  secure  employment  for  returning  service  men.  It  will  be  shown 
when  its  year  is  finished  that  the  Georgia  employment  bureau  has 
found  and  furnished  employment  to  about  100,000  persons.  While 
lack  of  funds  is  an  obstacle,  it  will  be  overcome  as  far  as  possible. — 
[Letter  from  chairman,  central  committee.  State  council  of  defense 
to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  19,  1919.] 

The  State  council  of  defense,  in  cooperation  with  the  State  com- 
mission of  labor  and  private  associations,  is  maintaining  employ- 
ment agencies  in  eight  different  cities  in  Georgia.  The  work  has  been 
hampered  by  the  failure  of  appropriations,  but  everything  possible 
is  being  done  with  the  curtailed  resources. — [Letter  from  chairman, 
central  committee,  State  council  of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of 
National  Defense,  Mar.  24,  1919.] 

Two  hundred  of  the  leading  employers  of  labor  in  Savannah 
held  a  meeting  on  March  29,  with  the  mayor  presiding;  and  plans 
were  made  to  provide  every  returned  soldier,  sailor,  and  marine 
coming  home  to  Savannah  with  employment.  It  is  expected,  through 
this  medium,  to  accomplish  all  that  was  hoped  to  be  done  through 
the  employment  service. — [Telegram,  Macon,  Ga.,  Mar.  30,  1919.] 

Employment  offices  maintained  in  Georgia  by  the  Federal  Gov- 
ernment in  cooperation  with  State  and  local  organizations  report 
that  during  the  six  months'  period  from  January  1  to  June  30, 
1919,  29,454  persons  were  registered  who  were  seeking  employment; 
38,807  requests  for  employees  w^ere  received;  and  18,428  persons 
were  placed  by  these  offices. — [Compiled  from  statistics  furnished 
by  U.  S.  Employment  Service,  Aug.  8,  1919.] 

Citations  have  been  issued  by  the  United  States  War  and  Navy 
Departments  to  417  firms  in  the  State,  these  employers   having 


GEORGIA.  69. 

assured  the  departments  that  they  will  reemploy  every  returned 
service  man  who  formerly  worked  for  them  and  left  to  serve  in  the 
Army  or  Navy  during  the  World  War. — [Memorandum  from  assist- 
ant to  the  Secretary  of  War  in  the  replacement  of  service  men  to  civil 
life  life,  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Nov.  20,  1919.] 

Highways. 

The  State  legislature  is  considering  submitting  to  the  voters  the 
question  of  issuing  $40,000,000  of  State  highway  bonds. — [Statement 
prepared  by  Bureau  of  Public  Koads,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture.] 

On  October  1,  1919,  79  highway  projects  had  been  approved  in  the 
State,  involving  the  improvement  of  643.23  miles  of  road  at  a  total 
estimated  cost  of  $5,771,293.06,  of  which  the  Federal  Government 
is  requested  to  pay  $2,767,716.97,  in  accordance  with  the  provisions 
of  the  Federal-aid  road  act  of  July  11,  1916,  as  amended  by  the  act 
of  February  28,  1919. — [Statement  prepared  by  Bureau  of  Public 
Roads,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture.] 
Information  Service  for  Returned  Service  Men. 

The  local  branches  of  the  American  Red  Cross  are  cooperating 
with  other  organizations  in  establishing  contacts  with  service  men 
for  the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  adjustment  of  their  allotments, 
allowance  accounts,  compensation  and  claims,  and  the  reinstatement 
of  lapsed  or  canceled  insurance.  It  is  the  desire  of  the  Bureau  of 
War  Risk  Insurance  that  all  inquiries  of  this  nature  be  cleared 
through  the  home-service  sections  of  the  American  Red  Cross.  Up 
to  April  1,  1919,  the  American  Red  Cross  had  organized  in  Georgia 
278  units  with  a  total  of  450  workers. — [Statement  prepared  by 
American  National  Red  Cross  for  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
November,  1919.] 
land  Settlement. 

The  governor  has  invited  landowners  to  submit  to  him  proposals 
for  furnishing  lands  to  the  Government  for  returned  soldiers.  This 
property  w  ould  be  sold  at  a  fair  price  to  men  in  the  military  service 
who  wish  to  go  back  to  farming,  upon  their  discharge.  One  tract 
of  from  fifty  to  one  hundred  thousand  acres  has  been  offered.  Final 
plans  await  action  of  Congress  upon  a  bill  now  pending  providing 
lands  for  the  soldiers. — [Georgian,  Atlanta,  Ga.,  Feb.  24,  1919.] 

A  committee  has  been  appointed  and  is  now  at  work  with  fair 
prospect  of  success  on  securing  land  for  returning  soldiers  and 
sailors.  Arrangements  have  already  been  perfected  with  the  owners 
of  large  tracts  of  land  whereby  land  will  be  obtained  and  subdivided 
for  soldier  farms,  if  the  legislature  approves  of  the  plan  when  it 
convenes. — [Letter  from  chairman,  State  council  of  defense  to  U.  S. 
Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  19,  1919.] 

A  resolution  Avas  passed  by  the  house,  which  was  reported  unani- 
mously to  the  Senate,  providing  for  the  appointment  by  the  gover- 


70  UNITED  STATES  RE  ADJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

nor  of  a  Georgia  Land  Settlement  Board  of  three  members,  to  co- 
operate with  the  Federal  Government  in  soldier-settlement  matters. — • 
[Memorandum  from  Keclamation  Service,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  the  In- 
terior to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Nov.  1,  1919.] 
Public  Works. 

Eeports  received  in  January,  1919,  cover  16  public  building  and 
construction  projects  which  were  under  way  of  contemplated  in  the 
State,  aggregating  an  estimated  value  of  $10,400,000.  Of  this 
number  5  were  street  improvements,  estimated  to  cost  $1^5,000; 
and  3  were  waterworks,  estimated  to  cost  $TOO,000. — [Statistics 
compiled  by  Division  of  Public  Works  and  Construction  Devel- 
opments, U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor,  Apr.  IT,  1919.] 

School  Gardens. 

School  gardens  are  being  conducted  in  48  cities  and  toAvns,  the 
total  present  enrollment  in  the  State  being  10,561. — [Prepared  from 
material  furnished  by  U.  S.  School  Garden  Army  to  U.  S.  Council 
of  National  Defense,  Nov.  1,  11^190 
Vocational  Education. 

The  trustees  of  the  Blackshear  Sehool  system  unanimously  de- 
cided to  incorporate  vocational  training  in  the  course  of  study  for 
next  season.  Federal  aid  is  expected.  The  policy  is  to  extend  the 
city's  educational  system  in  orcler  to  make  it  most  beneficial,  par- 
ticularly to  the  farming  interests. — [News,  Savannah,  Ga.,  Mar.  ;^0, 
1919.] 

Vocational  Reeducation  of  Disabled  Service  Men. 

In  accordance  with  section  2  of  the  Federal  vocational  rehabilita- 
tion act  of  June  27,  1918,  as  amended  July  11,  1919,  arrangements 
had  been  made  up  to  October  25,  1919,  by  the  Federal  Board  for 
Vocational  Education  with  21  educational  institutions  in  the  State 
for  the  reeducation  of  service  men  to  overcome  the  handicap  of  dis- 
abilities incui-red  in  the  service.  A  total  of  215  such  men  liave  been 
sent  to  these  institutions  for  training.  Arrangements  have  also  been 
made  by  this  board  with  32  industrial  establishments  in  the  State 
whereby  the  latter  have  undertaken  to  train  a  total  of  35  disabled 
men. — [Compiled  from  statement  prepared  by  Rehabilitation  Divi- 
sion, Federal  Board  for  Vocational  Education.] 

Woman's  Committee. 

The  executive  committee  of  the  State  division  of  the  Woman's 
Committee,  United  States  Council  of  .National  Defense,  met  recently 
in  Atlanta  for  the  purpose  of  closing  the  affairs  of  the  committee, 
which  was  organized  for  the  duration  of  the  war ;  acting  on  certain 
recommendations  pertaining  to  the  results  of  the  work  accomplished ; 
and  arranging  for  the  continuation  of  the  defense  work  under  some 
other  organization.    The  plan  of  community  councils  was  set  forth 


HAWAII.  71 

as  the  best  organization  through  which  the  spirit  of  cooperation, 
which  had  been  brought  about  in  war  work,  might  continue.  It 
was  stated  the  governor  indorsed  the  movement  and  will  recommend 
it  in  his  message  to  the  forthcoming  legislature. — [Chronicle, 
Augusta,  Ga.,  May  18,  1919.] 

GUAM. 

School  Gardens. 

School  gardens  with  a  total  of  500  children  have  been  established 
on  the  Island. — [Letter  from  U.  S.  School  Garden  Army  to  U.  S. 
Council  of  National  Defense,  Nov.  10,  1919.] 

HAWAII. 

English  Language  in  Schools. 

A  law  has  been  enacted  by  the  legislature  making  the  English 
language  the  medium  and  basis  of  instruction  in  all  public  and 
private  schools  within  the  Territory.  According  to  the  terms  of  the 
law  the  HaAvaiian  language  shall  be  taught  in  addition  to  the  Eng- 
lish in  all  normal  and  high  schools  of  the  Territory. — [Session  Laws 
of  Hawaii,  1919,  Act  191.] 

Highways. 

A  loan-fund  bill  to  the  amount  of  $5,300,000  has  been  prepared 
by  the  governor  and  is  now  before  the  legislature.  Of  this  amount 
$2,000,000  is  for  roads.— [Public  Ledger,  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  Apr. 
16,  1919.] 

Appropriations  to  the  amount  of  approximately  $215,000  have 
been  made  by  the  legislature  for  the  construction  of  roads  in  the 
Territory. — [Session  Laws  of  Pliiwaii,  1919.] 
Land  Settlement. 

Hawaii  will  probably  send  a  commission  to  Washington  to  take 
up  the  matter  of  proposed  changes  in  the  Federal  laws  controlling 
public  lands,  as  well  as  several  other  proposed  changes.  The  pro- 
posal is  noAv  before  the  legislature  and  is  receiving  favorable  con- 
sideration. Besides  the  governor,  the  commission  will  probably  be 
composed  of  a  senator,  a  representative,  the  attorney  general,  and 
the  land  commissioner.  It  is  desired  to  bring  about  changes  which 
will  assure  the  placing  of  bona  fide  homesteaders  on  the  public  lands 
instead  of  allowing  speculators  full  SAvay  upon  them,  as  now.  The 
present  legislature  is  expected  to  pass  a  Territorial  farm-loan  bill 
setting  aside  a  fund  of  $100,000  to  aid  homesteaders.  Interest  will 
be  placed  at  6  per  cent,  which  is  less  than  the  rate  asked  by  the 
banks,  and  the  length  of  the  loan  Avill  depend  upon  the  special 
industry  the  homesteader  is  following.  Cane  groAvers  Avill  be  re- 
quired to  pay  back  at  the  end  of  each  harvest,  while  cattlemen  Avill 


72  UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

have  longer  periods  in  which  to  pay. — [Public  Ledger,  Philadelphia, 
Pa.,  Apr.  16,  1919,] 

Public  Works. 

The  governor  has  prepared  a  loan-fund  bill,  amounting  to 
$5,300,000,  which  is  now  before  the  legislature.  Of  this  amount 
$2,000,000  is  for  harbor  improvements  and  $1,000,000  for  new  build- 
ings.— [Public  Ledger,  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  Apr.  16,  1919.] 

School  Gardens. 

School  gardens  are  being  conducted,  the  total  present  enrollment 
of  children  being  5,900. — [Prepared  from  material  furnished  by 
U.  S.  School  Garden  Army  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
Nov.  1,  1919.] 

IDAHO. 

Americanization. 

The  Americanization  work  is  found  to  be  a  matter  of  importance, 
as  the  investigation  with  respect  to  conditions  is  extended.  The 
work  of  the  State  committee  on  Americanization  has  reached  a 
stage  where  it  is  necessary  to  have  county  committeemen  to  take 
charge  of  the  Americanization  work. — [Letter  from  secretary.  State 
council  of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Nov.  9, 
1918.] 

Americanization  work  will  be  carried  on  through  the  schools  and 
women's  clubs. — [Letter  from  secretary.  State  council  of  defense  to 
U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  29,  1919.] 

A  bill  is  before  the  legislature  providing  for  compulsory  learning 
of  the  English  language  as  part  of  the  Americanization  program  in 
the  State.  The  proposed  requirement  is  that  the  prospective  citizen 
be  able  to  read  up  to  fifth-grade  qualifications. — [Letter  from  the 
governor  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  July  3,  1919.] 

Assistance  for  Service  Men. 

An  old  law  providing  for  payment  of  funeral  expenses  of  ex- 
service  men  of  the  Civil  and  Spanish-American  Wars  has  been 
amended  to  include  honorably  discharged  men  who  served  in  the 
war  against  Germany. — [Information  Bureau,  American  National 
Red  Cross,  Compendium  Change  No.  117.] 
•'  Back-to-School  "  Drive. 

There  are  few  children  out  of  school  in  Idaho.  The  "  Back-to- 
school  "  drive  has  been  undertaken,  nevertheless.  The  "  Stay-in- 
school  "  campaign  has  proved  the  most  popular  feature  of  the  drive. — 
[Report  of  child  conservation  section  of  the  Field  Division  to  U.  S. 
Council  of  National  Defense,  Oct.  1, 1918,  to  July  1,  1919.] 
Centralization  of  Power  in  the  Executive. 

The  incoming  State  administration  is  advocating  a  plan  to  cen- 
tralize power  in  the  chief  executive,  making  him  directly  responsible 


IDAHO.  73 

for  the  administration  of  State  affairs.  According  to  this  phm  the 
State  government  will  operate  through  a  cabinet  of  nine  commis- 
sioners and  the  elective  State  officials  as  the  heads  of  their  respective 
bureaus.  The  nine  departments  are  a  consolidation  of  numerous 
present  government  units.  The  commissioners  are  to  be  appointed 
by  the  governor  and  may  be  removed  at  his  discretion. — [Letter 
from  the  governor  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  June  27, 
1919.] 
Community  Councils. 

The  State  council  of  defense  "  closes  shop  "  permanently  on  April 

10.  A  number  of  the  county  councils  will  maintain  their  organiza- 
tions. Every  possible  effort  has  been  made  to  maintain  the  work  of 
the  community  councils.  The  recent  legislature  passed  a  bill  em- 
powering the  governor  to  maintain  these  organizations,  and  no 
doubt  he  will. — [Letter  from  secretary,  State  council  of  defense  to 
U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  29,  1919.] 

Council  of  Defense. 

A  bill  has  been  passed  by  the  State  legislature,  approved  March 

11,  providing  that  the  governor  may  appoint  a  State  council 
of  defense  at  any  time,  not  only  for  the  present  emergency  during 
postwar  adjustment  but  also  at  any  future  time  of  need.  This  coun- 
cil is  to  represent  labor  and  the  various  activities,  industries,  and 
resources  of  the  State,  and  women's  activities  are  to  be  represented 
as  well  as  men's.  The  members  of  the  council,  according  to  this 
bill,  are  to  serve  without  pay,  but  are  to  be  allowed  necessary  travel- 
ing expenses.  One  of  the  duties  of  such  a  council  is  designated  as 
the  organization  of  the  State  or  any  county  or  community  into 
relief  or  welfare  agencies.  The  law  provides  for  a  $5,000  appropri- 
ation for  the  work  of  such  a  council  during  the  postwar  emergency, 
and  empowers  the  county  and  municipal  governing  bodies  to  pay 
necessary  expenses  of  local  council. — [Laws  of  Idaho,  1919,  ch.  100.] 
Employment. 

The  incoming  governor  in  his  message  to  the  legislature  states 
that  confidence  should  be  maintained  in  tlie  ability  of  the  State  to 
absorb  its  returning  service  men  in  agricultural, and  industrial  pur- 
suits.   [Advocate,  Wells,  Minn.,  Jan.  23,  1919.] 

The  Federal  employment  service  in  Boise  states  that  all  Idaho 
soldiers  can  be  provided  readily  with  employment,  and  that  there 
will  be  no  serious  unemployment  problem  in  the  State  unless  there 
should  be  an  influx  of  men  from  other  States.  From  the  rural  coun- 
ties in  which  there  are  no  cities  word  is  received  that  the  returning 
soldiers  step  back  into  their  former  places,  and  there  are  none  unem- 
ployed. Many  civilians,  however,  are  unemployed  at  present  while 
waiting  for  ranch  work  and  the  building  contracts  to  begin.    Poca- 


74  UNITED  STATES  EEADJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

tello  has  the  greatest  congestion.  The  Oregon  Short  Line  Raih^oad 
Co.  is  keeping  girls  in  the  shops,  but  no  soldier  who  was  in  the  em- 
j)loy  of  the  railroad  at  the  time  of  his  enlistment  is  denied  a  position 
wdth  the  railroad  upon  his  return. — [Christian  Science  Monitor,  Bos- 
ton, Mass.,  Mar.  15,  1910.] 

Ample  machinery  has  been  provided  to  care  for  returning  soldiers ; 
committees  organized  under  the  State  and  county  councils  are  car- 
ing for  the  employment  question. — [Letter  from  secretary,  State 
council  of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  29, 
1919.] 

Employment  offices  maintained  in  Idaho  by  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment in  cooperation  with  State  and  local  organizations  report  that 
during  the  six  months'  period  from  January  1  to  June  30,  1919, 
11,733  persons  w^ere  registered  who  were  seeking  employment;  9,309 
requests  for  employees  were  received ;  and  7,189  persons  were  placed 
by  these  offices. — [Comj)iled  from  statistics  furnished  b}-  U.  S.  Em- 
ployment Service,  Aug.  8,  1919.] 

The  War  and  Navy  Departments'  citation  has  been  issued  to  245 
firms  in  Idaho,  these  employers  having  assured  the  War  and  Navy 
Departments  that  they  will  reemploy  everybody  who  formerly 
worked  with  them  and  left  to  serve  in  the  Army  and  Navy  during 
the  A^^orld  War. — [Memorandum  from  assistant  to  the  Secretary  of 
War  in  the  replacement  of  service  men  to  civil  life,  to  U.  S.  Council 
of  National  Defense,  Nov.  20,  1919.] 

English  Language  in  Schools. 

An  act,  approved  February  25,  forbids  the  teaching"  of  any 
subject  in  any  other  language  than  English  in  the  grade  schools  and 
high  schools,  or  in  any  school  teaching  similar  branches,  in  the  State. 
The  act  allows  the  imparting  of  instruction  in  any  particular  lan- 
guage for  the  purpose  of  teaching  that  language. — [Laws  of  Idaho, 
1919,  ch.  153.] 

Highways. 

The  State  legislature  at  its  last  session  passed  an  act,  approved 
March  14,  providing  for  the  issuance  of  bonds  in  the  sum  of 
$2,000,000  for  the  purpose  of  providing  money  to  be  used  in  paying 
for  a  portion  of  the  cost  of  constructing  a  system  of  State  high- 
ways.—[Laws  of  Idaho,  1919,  ch.  193.] 

On  October  1,  1919,  15  highw^ay  projects  had  been  approved  in  the 
State,  involving  the  improvement  of  209.16  miles  of  road  at  a  total 
estimated  cost  of  $2,217,598.52,  of  which  the  Federal  Government  is 
requested  to  pay  $1,031,155.65  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of 
the  Federal-aid  road  act  of  July  11,  1916,  as  amended  by  the  act  of 
February  28,  1919. — [Statement  prepared  by  Bureau  of  Public 
Roads,  TJ.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture.] 


IDAHO.  75 

Twin  Falls  Coimty  carried  its  bond  issne  of  $1,250^000  for  road 
work  by  a  vote  of  approximately  15  to  1.  It  is  estimated  that  at 
least  80  per  cent  of  the  bond  money  will  be  expended  for  labor  in  the 
district.— [Tribune,  New  York,  N^  Y.,  Apr.  29, 1919.] 

Information  Service  for  Eeturned  Service  Men. 

The  local  branches  of  the  American  Red  Cross  are  cooperating 
with  other  organizations  in  establishing  contacts  with  service  men 
for  the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  adjustment  of  their  allotments, 
allowance  accounts,  compensation  and  claims,  and  the  reinstatement 
of  lapsed  or  canceled  insurance.  It  is  the  desire  of  the  Bureau  of 
War  Risk  Insurance  that  all  inquiries  of  this  nature  be  cleai-ed 
through  the  home-service  sections  of  the  American  Red  Cross.  Up 
to  April  1,  1^19,  the  American  Red  Cross  had  organized  in  Idaho 
222  units  with  a  total  of  263  workers. — [Statement  prepared  by 
American  National  Red  Cross  for  U»  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
Nov.,  1919.] 

Land  Reclamation. 

State  and  Federal  cooperation  under  favorable  laws  in  the  making 
may  result  during  the  next  biennium  in  the  reclamation  of  1,500,000 
acres  of  land  in  the  State  for  the  benefit  of  returning  soldiers  and 
sailors.  One  of  the  largest  prospective  projects  is  the  Bruneau  unit, 
of  more  than  640,000  acres  in  southwestern  Idaho.  Surveys  have 
been  made  for  a  s,ystem  to  radiate  from  a  huge  dam  which  it  is  pro- 
X^osed  to  build  in  the  Snake  River  near  American  Falls. — [Oregonian, 
Portland,  Oreg.,  Feb.  5,  1919.] 

An  irrigation  congress  was  held  at  Pocatello  to  discuss  a  combina- 
tion of  irrigation  projects  along  the  Snake  River  in  Idaho  and  the 
building  of  a  dam  at  American  Falls,  which  will  irrigate  3,000,000 
acres  of  arid  land.  It  is  intended  to  place  much  of  this  reclaimed 
land  at  the  disposal  of  returned  soldiers,  giving  them  25  years  to 
pay  for  it,  in  accordance  with  the  plan  advocated  by  the  Secretary  of 
the  Interior.— [Tribune,  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah,  Feb.  24,  1919.] 

Land  Settlement. 

The  legislature  has  enacted  a  bill  (H.  100),  approved  March  T, 
1919,  providing  for  cooperation  in  soldier  settlements  Avith  the  Fed- 
eral Government,  and  appropriating  $100,000  conditioned  on  the 
passage  of  similar  legislation  by  Congress.  This  bill  creates  a  sol- 
dier-settlement board  consisting  of  the  commissioners  of  agriculture, 
public  works,  and  reclamation. — [Memorandum  from  Reclamation 
Service,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  the  Interior  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National 
Defense,  July  1,  1919.] 

PuBlic  Works. 

The  governor  in  his  message  to  the  legislature  urged  it  to  take 
the  lead  in  the  stimulation  of  industry  by  providing  for  the  erection 


76  UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

of  public  buildings  and  improvements. — [Advocate,  Wells,  Minn., 
Jan.  23,  1919.] 

At  its  last  session,  the  legislature  went  on  record  for  a  number  of 
important  issues,  among  which  was  constructive  internal  develop- 
ment of  the  State  through  the  building  of  many  public  edifices. — 
[Oregonian,  Portland,  Greg.,  Mar.  16,  1919.] 

Nearly  $7,000,000  will  be  expended  by  the  State  during  the  next 
two  years  on  public  improvements. — [Letter  from  secretary.  State 
council  of  defense  to  IT.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  29, 
1919.] 

Reports  received  in  January,  1919,  cover  40  public  building  and 
construction  projects  which  were  under  way  or  contemplated  in  the 
State,  aggregating  an  estimated  value  of  $9,215,000.  Of  this  number 
19  were  street  improvements,  estimated  to  cost  $7,525,000 ;  and  6  were 
schools,  estimated  to  cost  $860,000. — [Statistics  compiled  by  Di- 
vision of  Public  Works  and  Construction  Developments,  U.  S.  Dept. 
of  Labor,  Apr.  17,  1919.] 

School  Gardens. 

School  gardens  are  being  conducted  in  12  cities  and  towns,  the 
total  present  enrollment  in  the  State  being  2,657. — [Prepared  from 
material  furnished  by  U.  S.  School  Garden  Army  to  U.  S.  Council 
of  National  Defense,  Nov.  1, 1919.] 
Vocational  Education. 

Educational  plans  for  the  State,  as  modified  by  reconstruction 
conditions,  contemplate  larger  attention  to  vocational  education. 
These  will  include  State  appropriations  to  the  amount  of  $38,420  to 
match  appropriations  by  Congress  and  a  larger  vocational  curricu- 
lum for  high  schools.  The  State  universities  will  be  required  to  offer 
programs  adapted  to  reconstruction  conditions,  and  the  two  normal 
schools  will  offer  courses  in  nursing  with  a  view  to  the  improvement 
of  health  and  health  conditions,  particularly  in  rural  communi- 
ties.— [Letter  from  the  governor  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  De- 
fense, July  3,  1919.] 

Vocational  Reeducation  of  Disabled  Service  Men. 

In  accordance  with  section  2  of  the  Federal  vocational  rehabilita- 
tion act  of  June  27,  1918,  as  amended  July  11,  1919,  arrangements 
had  been  made  up  to  October  25,  1919,  by  the  Federal  Board  for 
Vocational  Education  with  six  educational  institutions  in  the  State 
for  the  reeducation  of  service  men  to  overcome  the  handicap  of  dis- 
abilities incurred  in  the  service.  A  total  of  21  such  men  have  been 
sent  to  these  institutions  for  training. —  [Compiled  from  statement 
prepared  by  Rehabilitation  Division,  Federal  Board  for  Vocational 
Education.] 


ILLINOIS.  77 

Water  Resources. 

The  legislature  at  its  last  session  appropriated  $20,000  to  in^^es- 
tigate  the  water  resources  of  the  State. — [Oregonian,  Portland, 
Oreg.,  Mar.  16,  1919.] 

Woman's  Committee. 

It  is  intended  to  continue  to  advocate  the  programs  recommended 
by  the  United  States  Council  of  National  Defense,  even  though  the 
State  division  of  the  Woman's  Committee  has  been  disbanded. — 
[Letter  from  chairman.  State  division  of  the  Woman's  Committee  to 
U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  2,  1919.] 

ILLINOIS. 

Americanization. 

The  State  council  of  defense  has  recommended  to  the  legislature 
that  evening  classes  for  teaching  English  to  aliens  in  the  public 
schools  be  made  a  part  of  the  general  scheme  of  education  of  the 
Slate. — [News  release  of  State  council  of  defense,  Feb.  8,  1919.] 

The  creation  of  a  State  commission  or  bureau  to  promote  making 
of  American  citizens  out  of  the  alien  population  is  to  be  urged  upon 
tue  State  legislature.  The  State  Americanization  committee  has  de- 
cided to  send  a  deputation  to  Springfield  to  try  to  get  the  work 
started.  An  appropriation  of  $100,000  for  the  purpose  will  be 
asked.— [Tribune,  Chicago,  111.,  May  4,  1919.] 

A  committee  of  15,  representing  as  many  different  agencies, 
has  been  appointed  to  represent  the  Federal  Government  in  Ameri- 
canization work.  This  committee  expects  to  work  closely  with  all 
State  and  Federal  organizations. — [Memorandum  from  Americaniza- 
tion division,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  the  Interior  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National 
Defense,  July  23,  1919.] 

An  Americanization  institute  to  teach  English  and  the  principles 
of  free  government  to  foreign  adults  will  be  opened  in  Chicago  in 
the  Political  Equality  League's  quarters,  and  will  continue  daily 
until  February  28.  Morning,  afternoon,  and  evening  sessions  will 
be  conducted  by  the  State  division  of  the  Woman's  Committee,  United 
Slates  Council  of  National  Defense,  in  cooperation  with  the  Illinois 
Federation  of  Clubs,  the  Political  Equality  League,  and  the  Woman's 
City  Club.— [Herald-Examiner,  Chicago,  111.,  Feb.  12,  1919.] 

Americanization  work  among  foreign-born  employees  is  being 
conducted  by  a  committee  on  Americanization  of  the  Chicago  Asso- 
ciation of  Commerce  in  collaboration  with  the  board  of  education. — 
[Keadjustment,  San  Francisco,  Calif.,  Oct.  10,  1919.] 

The  superintendent  of  schools  of  Elgin  makes  this  report.  A  night 
school  has  been  established  in  the  city  for  aliens  with  three  classes, 
as  follows :  Men  who  can  not  read  and  write  the  English  language — 
reading,  w^riting,  civics,  and  United  States  history;  men  who  can 


78  UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

read  and  write  tlie  Englisli  language — civics  and  United  States  his- 
tory; and  women  reading,  writings  civics,  and  United  States 
Listoiy.  The  textbook  prepared  by  the  Government  is  used.  Classes 
meet  every  Wednesday  and  Friday  from  7.30  to  9  o'clock  each  week 
and  three  teachers  are  employed — two  men  and  one  woman.  The 
Manufacturers'  Club  of  La  Salle  is  raising  a  fund  of  several  thousand 
dollars  for  use  next  year  to  further  the  education  of  adults,  especially 
aliens. — [Compiled  from  forthcoming  report  of  director  of  citizen- 
ship to  Commissioner  of  Naturalization,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor,  1920.] 

Assistance  for  Service  Men. 

An  act,  approved  June  23,  amends  the  act  providing  for  the 
burial  of  soldiers  and  sailors  to  include  those  who  fought  with  the 
United  States  and  the  Allies  against  the  Ceneral  Powers. — [Laws  of 
Illinois,  1919,  p.  369.] 

The  American  Reel  Cix)ss  and  the  Knights  of  Columbus  throughout 
the  State  will  provide  shelter  and  food  for  returning  soldiers  until 
the}'  secm^e  employment.  The  Chicago  Association  of  Commerce  has 
pledged  itself  to  provide  food,  lodging,  and  jobs  for  soldiers,  and 
has  adopted  preliminary  measures  to  that  end. — [Herald-Examiner, 
Chicago,  111.,  Feb.  15,  1919.] 

At  a  lucent  meeting  of  the  Freeport  Chamber  of  Commerce,  the 
directors  appointed  a  special  committee  to  help  and  cooperate  with 
the  returned  soldiers  and  sailors  and  to  tender  all  reasonable  and 
practical  assistance  deemed  necessaiT.  One  of  the  primary  functions 
of  the  committee  will  be  to  assist  the  service  man  to  find  employ- 
ment.— [Journal,  Freeport,  111.,  Apr.  12,  1919.] 

"  Baek-to-School  "  Drive. 

The  "  Back-to-school "  drive  in  Illinois  has  beeu  carried  out  jointly 
by  the  child-welfare  department  and  the  children-in-industry  com- 
mittees.— [Eeport  of  child  conservation  section  of  the  Field  Di- 
\4sion  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Oct.  1,  1918,  to  July  1, 
1919.] 

Bonuses  for  Service  Men. 

House  bill  207,  introduced  February  20,  which  was  passed  bv 
the  house  but  defeated  in  the  senate,  would  make  an  appropria- 
tion of  $500,000  for  the  relief  of  honorably  discharged  soldiers.  The 
bill  authorizes  the  State  director  of  finance  to  pay  $50  to  each  hon- 
orably discharged  citizen  of  Illinois  who  served  in  the  United  States 
Army  or  Navy  in  the  World  War  or  to  the  dependents  of  tliose 
who  died  in  the  service  or  since  receiving  their  honorable  discharge. 
House  bill  749,  introduced  June  6,  would  pay  to  each  enlisted 
man  who  served  in  the  military  or  naval  forces  of  the  United  States 
during  the  late  war  and  who  was  a  resident  of  the  State  at  the  time  of 
his  enlistment  the  sum  of  $50.    In  case  of  the  death  of  any  person, 


ILLINOIS.  79 

\Yho,  if  living,  would  be  entitled  to  sucli  sum,  the  amount  would  bo 
paid  to  his  dependents.  The  bill  would  authorize  the  issue  of  bonds  in 
the  sum  of  $15,000,000  to  be  reimbursed  by  an  annual  tax  of  $2  on 
the  male  inhabitants  of  the  State  above  the  age  of  20  years,  citizens 
of  the  United  States  and  aliens,  who  were  not  engaged  in  the  mih- 
tary  or  naval  service  of  the  United  States  during  the  war.  No 
bonus  bill  was  enacted. — [111.  Leg.  Synopsis  and  Digest  No.  21,  June 
30,  1919.] 
Building  Activity. 

The  legislative  committee  appointed  to  investigate  building  mate- 
rial prices  has  rendered  a  report,  in  which  the  public  is  advised  not 
to  delay  building  projects  in  the  hope  that  prices  will  come  down 
materially.  Its  members  started  out  in  the  belief  that  prices  of 
buikling  materials  in  Illinois  were  too  high  but  after  holding  a 
hearing  in  Chicago,  before  which  representatives  of  the  various 
building  industries  testified,  they  arrived  at  the  conclusion  that  ex- 
isting in-ices  would  not  decline  materially,  and  that  these  prices 
expressed  a  new  and  substantially  permanent  level  upon  which  pres- 
ent and  future  business  must  be  conducted.  The  report  states  that 
reconstruction  can  only  be  accomplished  in  its  real  sense  by  every 
citizen  subscribing  to  the  doctrine  "  Buy-now,  build-now." — [Pub- 
lic Ledger,  Philadelphia,  Pa..  May  23.  1919.] 

Efforts  are  being  made  by  the  committee  appointed  by  the  State 
legislature  to  determine  the  costs  and  profits  in  building  material, 
and  whether  combinations  to  control  prices  exist  among  the  con- 
cerns engaged  in  these  lines  of  trade. — [Report  of  State  council  of 
defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  June  10,  1919.] 

Community  Councils. 

The  State  division  of  the  Woman's  Committee,  LTnited  States 
Council  of  National  Defense,  expects  to  use  its  machinery  in  co- 
operation with  representative  men  in  every  community  and  with 
the  neighborhood  committees,  in  calling  the  initial  organizations 
to  meetings  throughout  the  State  for  the  formation  of  community 
councils.  After  that  each  town  will  have  a  council  with  a  govern- 
ing board  of  its  own  choosing. — [News  release  of  State  division 
of  the  Woman's  Committee,  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
Feb.  27,  1919.] 

An  organization  has  been  formed  by  the  State  division  of  the 
Woman's  Committee,  United  States  Council  of  National  Defense, 
to  be  known  as  the  Community  Councils  of  Illinois.  Its  aim  is  to 
establish  community  council  organizations  in  the  State. — [Letter 
from  executive  secretary.  Community  Councils  of  Illinois  to  U.  S. 
Council  of  National  Defense,  Apr.  10,  1919.] 


80  UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

Over  50  community  councils  have  been  formed  in  this  State. 
At  present  the  work  is  financed  by  the  funds  remaining  in  the  ex- 
chequer of  the  State  division  of  the  Woman's  Committee.  This 
fund  will  be  exhausted  October  1,  and  there  is  much  uncertainty 
as  to  whether  there  will  be  any  State  headquarters  or  officials  to 
carry  on  this  work  after  that  date.  Several  towns  have  organized 
without  any  State  assistance.  It  is  hoped  the  local  councils  will 
desire  to  contribute  a  pro  rata  fund  toward  the  maintenance  of  a  State 
office  to  administer  to  all  the  councils. — [Report  of  member  Federal 
agency  section  of  the  Field  Division  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  De- 
fense, June  24,  1919.] 

Council  of  Defense. 

The  State  council  of  defense  issued  a  statement  December  2,  1918, 
declaring  its  subordinate  bodies  discharged  and  dissolved.  It  further 
said :  "  Some  of  the  departments  of  the  State  council  of  defense, 
notably  the  publicity  committee,  the  food  production  and  conserva- 
tion committee,  etc.,  must  be  maintained  for  the  time  being  and  con- 
tinue their  w^ork  until  definitely  advised."  The  State  council  of 
defense  continues  its  official  existence  as  provided  by  the  law  until 
the  formal  declaration  of  peace. — [Bulletin  No.  36  of  State  council 
of  defense,  Dec.  2,  1918.] 

The  speakers  bureau  of  the  State  council  of  defense  is  directing 
its  efforts  to  the  stimulation  of  interest  in  reconstruction  matters. 
Among  other  subjects  receiving  attention  are  provision  for  the  handi- 
capped, vocational  and  business  opportunities  for  men  in  the  service, 
and  Americanization. — [Report  of  education  committee.  State  coun- 
cil of  defense,  Jan.,  1919.] 

Credit  for  Service  Time  in  the  Granting  of  Pensions. 

An  act,  approved  June  23,  amends  the  State  teachers'  pension  and 
retirement  fund  act  by  providing  that  teachers  may  compute  as  part 
of  the  25-year  period,  the  time  spent  in  the  service  during  the  AVorld 
War.— [Laws  of  Illinois,  1919,  p.  706.] 

Demobilization  of  Service  Men. 

A  resolution  has  been  passed  by  the  legislature  asking  the  United 
States  War  Department  to  discharge  at  once  all  soldiers  who  have 
had  experience  in  farming,  so  that  the  labor  situation  can  be  im- 
proved and  shortage  of  farm  workers  relieved. — [Laws  of  Illinois, 
1919,  p.  1003.] 

Lducation  of  Returned  Service  Men. 

Assistance  to  ex-service  men  in  securing  an  education  is  afforded 
by  an  act  approved  June  28.  This  bill  grants  those  who  served 
in  the  Army,  Navy,  or  Marine  Corps  of  the  United  States  dur- 
ing the  World  War,  who  are  residents  of  Illinois  and  who  possess 
the  necessary  qualifications,  a  scholarship  for  State  normal  schools 


ILLINOIS.  81 

and  the  State  iiniA^ersity.  The  act  also  carries  a  provision  for 
refunding  to  such  persons  any  tuition  charges  paid  to  such  schools 
by  them  since  they  were  discharged. — [111.  Leg.  Synopsis  and  Digest 
No.  21,  June  30,  1919.] 

Employment. 

An  industrial  census  for  Illinois  to  aid  in  the  rehabilitation  of 
soldiers  and  sailors  in  industry,  is  proposed  in  a  bill  which  will  be 
introduced  in  the  legislature.  The  census  is  expected  to  disclose  to 
what  extent  women  workers  have  taken  the  places  of  men  called  to 
the  service.— [Republic,  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  Feb.  16,  1919.] 

Due  to  the  closing  of  certain  of  the  L^nited  States  Employment 
Service  offices  in  the  State,  the  matter  of  finding  employment  for 
service  men  has  been  taken  in  hand  by  the  various  volunteer  agencies 
and  by  the  State  authorities,  and  it  is  thought  the  problem  will  be 
handled  in  a  satisfactory  way. — [Letter  from  chairman.  State  coun- 
cil of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  17,  1919.] 

An  act,  approved  May  28,  authorizes  the  State  department  of  labor 
to  establish  and  maintain  free  employment  offices  in  cities  having  a 
population  of  over  25,000,  additional  offices  in  the  discretion  of  the 
department  of  labor  in  cities  now  having  free  employment  offices, 
and  appropriates  $10,000  therefor. — [111.  Leg.  Synopsis  and  Digest 
No.  19,  June  7,  1919.] 

An  act,  approved  June  21,  requires  employers  of  five  of  more  per- 
sons, annually  and  upon  request,  to  report  data  concerning  employ- 
ment of  soldiers  and  sailors  to  the  State  department  of  labor  and 
directs  that  department  to  investigate  and  promote  the  reestablish- 
ment  in  industry  of  honorably  discharged  service  men,  and  to  classify 
and  publish  the  statistics  relating  thereto.  The  sum  of  $10,000  was 
appropriated  for  carrying  out  the  provisions  of  the  act. — [111.  Leg. 
Synopsis  and  Digest  No.  21,  June  30,  1919.] 

On  June  11  an  act  was  approved  authorizing  the  establishment  of 
free  employment  offices  in  each  city  of  not  less  than  50,000  popula- 
tion; one  in  tw^o  or  more  contiguous  cities  or  towns  having  an  ag- 
gregate population  of  not  less  than  50,000 ;  and  in  each  city  contain- 
ing a  population  of  1,000,000  or  over,  one  central  office.  These  offices 
will  be  designed  and  known  as  Illinois  Free  Employment  Offices. — 
[Laws  of  Illinois,  1919,  p.  532.] 

Employment  offices  maintained  in  Illinois  by  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment in  cooperation  with  State  and  local  organizations  report  that 
during  the  six  months'  period  from  January  1  to  June  30,  1919, 
G20,782  persons  were  registered  who  were  seeking  employment; 
326,576  requests  for  employees  w^ere  received;  and  193,551  persons 
were  placed  by  these  offices. — [Compiled  from  statistics  furnished  by 
U.  S.  Employment  Service,  Aug.  8,  1919.] 
134286°— 20 6 


82  UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

The  War  and  Navy  Departments'  citation  has  been  issued  to  13,979 
firms  in  Illinois,  these  emplo^^ers  having  assured  the  War  and  Navy 
Departments  that  they  will  reemploy  everybody  who  formerly 
worked  w^itli  them  and  left  to  serve  in  the  Army  and  Navy  during  the 
World  War. — [Memorandum  from  assistant  to  the  Secretary  of  War 
in  the  replacement  of  service  men  to  civil  life,  to  TJ.  S.  Council  of 
National  Defense,  Nov.  20,  1919.] 

The  Canton  Chamber  of  Commerce  has  made  pre^^arations  to  take 
care  of  the  local  employment  situation,  and  an  employment  bureau 
has  been  set  in  operation  in  the  chamber  of  commerce  offices.  The 
organization  of  the  local  bureau  was  part  of  the  reconstruction  pro- 
gram of  the  chamber,  necessitated  by  there  not  being  a  Federal  or 
State  agency  near  the  city.  The  chamber  of  commerce  will  continue 
to  do  everything  possible  to  place  returned  soldiers  and  sailors  in 
jobs. — [Publication  of  Canton  Chamber  of  Commerce,  Apr.  1,  1919.] 

The  Chicago  Association  of  Commerce  has  asked  for  a  speciul 
meeting  of  the  cit}^  council  to  consider  the  problem  of  reemployment 
of  demobilized  soldiers  and  sailors,  as  well  as  war  workers. 
This  action  is  likely  to  be  followed  by  an  immediate  confer- 
ence in  Springfield  of  all  industrial  organizations.  Demand  will  be 
made  that  $250,000,000  w^orth  of  pending  public  improvements  in 
Chicago  and  the  State  be  set  under  way  at  once  to  provide  cmploy- 
.iient.— [Herald-Examiner,  Chicago,  111.,  Jan.  26,  1919.] 

The  Federal  employment  bureau  in  Chicago  has  dozens  of  posi- 
tions listed,  paying  up  to  $6,000  a  year,  for  ex-service  men.  The 
bureau  is  constantly  asking  men  in  search  of  such  positions  to  apply 
to  it,  and  men  and  firms  in  need  of  such  help  to  list  their  needs  witli 
it.  Preference  is  always  given  to  returned  service  men. — [Herald- 
Examiner,  Chicago,  111.,  Mar.  6,  1919.] 

The  military  training  camp  association  has  taken  over  the  [)r()- 
fessional  and  special  section  of  the  Federal  employment  service  in 
Chicago,  du«  to  the  exhaustion  of  the  employment  service's  fund^:. 
The  association  is  trying  to  place  Chicago  men  in  Chicago  jobs. 
The  service  is  primarily  for  men  discharged  from  the  military  scr\- 
ice,  though  not  limited  to  them.— [News,  Chicago,  111.,  Mar.  31, 1919.] 

Due  to  the  failure  of  Congress  to  appropriate  funds  for  the  coiv 
tinuation  of  the  Federal  employment  service,  in  Chicago  more  thai. 
40  representatives  of  social  agencies  and  of  the  Army  and  Navy  and 
the  State  free  employment  service  organized  the  bureau  for  returning 
soldiers  and  sailors,  under  the  general  supervision  of  the  Federal 
emploj^ment  service  director  for  the  State.  Through  the  efforts  of 
the  Chicago  Association  of  Commerce,  large  groups  of  employers 
cooperate  with  the  bureau  and  the  employment  service  in  securing 
all  available  work  for  ex-service  men  and  unemployed  war  workers. 


ILLINOIS.  83 

Private  contributions  provide  not  only  for  this  bureau  for  returning 
soldiers,  sailors,  and  marines,  but  for  the  continuation  of  the  most 
important  Federal  employment  offices  as  well.  The  State  free  em- 
ployment service  has  been  increased  under  house  bill  470,  so  that 
an  employment  office  will  be  established  in  every  city  of  25,000  or 
more  population. — [Survey,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Apr.  15,  1919;  111. 
Leg.  Synopsis  and  Digest  No.  19,  June  T,  1919.] 

The  Chicago'  Association  of  Commerce  has  begun  a  campaign  for 
the  reconstruction  of  commercial  and  industrial  affairs.  The  re- 
construction program  is  in  connection  with  the  plan  for  providing 
employment  for  soldiers.  This  work  is  going  on  under  the  direc- 
tion of  a  committee  of  the  association. — [Report  of  State  council  of 
defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  June  10,  1919.] 

The  War  Camp  Community  Service  cooperated  with  the  United 
States  Employment  Service  and  the  community  labor  board  in 
Chicago.  In  cooperation  with  the  American  Legion,  the  War  Cam]) 
Community  Service  is  conducting  an  emplo3'ment  bureau  which  is 
finding  employment  for  returned  service  men  as  well  as  taking  care 
of  allotments,  bonuses,  war-risk  insurance,  etc. — [Report  of  War 
Camp  Community  Service  for  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
Aug.,  1919.] 
English  Language  in  Schools. 

The  State  council  of  defense  has  recommended  to  the  State  legis- 
lature that  the  teaching  of  the  common  branches  of  education  in 
English,  be  made  obligatory  in  all  elementary  schools.  This  would 
not  prohibit  the  study  of  other  languages.  An  act,  approved  June  28, 
embodies  this  object  by  providing  that  all  instruction  in  elementaiy 
branches  must  be  given  in  English. — [111.  Leg.  Synopsis  and  Digest 
Nos.  19,  21,  June  7,  30,  1919.] 
Food  Control. 

An  ordinance  was  introduced  in  the  city  council  providing  for  the 
creation  of  a  department  of  foods,  markets,  and  farm  products  for 
Chicago.  The  ordinance  is  designed  to  deal  with  profiteering,  espe- 
cially the  hoarding  of  food  in  large  quantities  by  speculators  who  by 
this  method  create  a  scarcity  and  then  unload  at  high  prices.  It  is 
also  designed  to  deal  with  dealers  who  buy  up  food  products  and 
let  them  decay,  in  order  to  dispose  of  stock  they  have  on  hand  at  a 
high  price. — [Christian  Science  Monitor,  Boston,  Mass.,  Apr.  11, 
1019.] 
Highways. 

At  an  election  held  a  few  days  before  the  war  ended,  the  State 
voted  $60,000,000  in  bonds  to  construct  a  system  of  State  roads  con- 
necting the  principal  towns.  This  road  building  program  is  now 
under  way. — [Report  of  State  council  of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council 
of  National  Defense,  June  10,  1919.] 


84  UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

Several  acts  relating  to  roads  have  engaged  the  attention  of  the 
legislature.  One  act,  approved  June  28,  appropriates  $12,100,000 
from  the  Federal-aid  fund  to  the  State  department  of  public  works 
and  buildings  for  use  in  the  construction  of  Federal-aid  roads. 
Another  act,  approved  June  28,  appropriates  $12,000,000  from  the 
road  fund  to  the  State  department  of  public  works  and  buildings  to 
meet  moneys  accruing  to  the  State  under  the  provisions  of  the  Fed- 
eral-aid road  act.  An  act,  approved  June  2,  appropriates  $2,500,000 
for  the  year  ending  June  30,  1919,  to  be  used  in  the  construction  of 
Federal-aid  roads.  An  act,  approved  June  28,  appropriates  to  the 
State  department  of  public  works  and  buildings  the  unexpended 
portion  of  the  1917  appropriation  for  Federal-aid  roads,  amounting 
approximately  to  $1,000,000.  House  bill  506,  approved  June  28, 
appropriates  to  the  department  of  public  works  and  buildings  for 
the  purpose  of  building  State-aid  roads  and  maintaining  all  roads 
for  which  the  State  is  responsible  in  the  several  counties  of  the 
State,  an  unexpended  balance  amounting  to  about  $6,000,000.  An- 
other State-aid  road  bill,  also  approved  June  28,  appropriates  $200,- 
000  for  the  year  ending  June  30,  1920,  and  $300,000  for  the  year 
ending  June  30,  1921.— [Laws  of  Illinois,  1919,  pp.  130-133,  139, 
140.] 

On  October  1, 1919,  11  highway  projects  had  been  approved  in  the 
State,  involving  the  improvement  of  612.08  miles  of  road  at  a  total 
estimated  cost  of  $15,582,091.02,  of  which  the  Federal  Government 
is  requested  to  pay  $7,532,869.05  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of 
the  Federal-aid  road  act  of  July  11,  1916,  as  amended  by  the  act 
of  February  28,  1919. — [Statement  prepared  by  Bureau  of  Public 
Roads,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture.] 

Information  Service  for  Returned  Service  Men. 

The  local  branches  of  the  American  Red  Cross  are  cooperating 
with  other  organizations  in  establishing  contacts  with  service  men 
for  the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  adjustment  of  their  allotments, 
allowance  accounts,  compensation  and  claims,  and  the  reinstatement 
of  lapsed  or  canceled  insurance.  It  is  the  desire  of  the  Bureau  of 
War  Risk  Insurance  that  all  inquiries  of  this  nature  be  cleared 
through  the  home-service  sections  of  the  American  Red  Cross.  Up 
to  April  1,  1919,  the  American  Red  Cross  had  organized  in  Illinois 
565  units  with  a  total  of  683  workers. — [Statement  prepared  by 
American  National  Red  Cross  for  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
November,  1919.] 

Land  Settlement. 

Two  bills  providing  for  acquisition  of  lands  by  the  State  for  settle- 
ment by  honorably  discharged  soldiers  and  sailors  of  the  United 
States  who  served  during  the  World  War  were  introduced  in  the 


ILLINOIS.  85 

State  legislature.     These  bills  failed  to  pass. — [111.  Leg.  Synopsis 

and  Digest  No.  21,  June  30,  1919.] 

Preference  to  Returned  Service  Men  in  Public  Employment. 

Four  acts,  approved  June  28,  provide  that  preference  shall  be 
given  to  discharged  service  men  in  the  offices  of  the  State,  counties, 
park  systems,  and  municipalities.  The  act  relating  to  municipalities 
states  that  additional  credit  in  promotional  examination  based  on 
length  of  service  shall  be  given  to  service  men. — [111.  Leg.  Synopsis 
and  Digest  No.  21,  June  30,  1919.] 

The  mayor  of  Chicago  has  urged  the  city  council  to  take  immediate 
steps  to  employ  returned  soldiers,  sailors,  and  marines  as  policemen. 
He  also  recommended  that  fire  department  vacancies  be  filled  with 
discharged  soldiers.  These  recommendations  have  not  yet  been  made 
effective.  An  amendment  of  the  civil  service  law  would  probably  be 
necessary. — [Eeport  of  State  council  of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council 
of  National  Defense,  June  10,  1919.] 

Public  Works. 

Keports  received  in  January,  1919,  cover  105  public  building  and 
construction  projects  which  were  under  way  or  contemplated  in  the 
State,  aggregating  an  estimated  value  of  $80,890,000.  Of  this  num- 
ber 16  were  street  improvements,  estimated  to  cost  $38,830,000;  10 
were  sewers,  estimated  to  cost  $10,235,000 ;  21  were  w^aterworks,  esti- 
mated to  cost  $9,790,000;  12  were  schools,  estimated  to  cost  $9,455,- 
000;  and  12  were  bridges,  estimated  to  cost  $10,550,000. — [Statistics 
compiled  by  Division  of  Public  Works  and  Construction  Develop- 
ments, U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor,  Apr.  17,  1919.] 

Resolutions  with  reference  to  the  commencement  of  public  Avorks 
have  been  adopted  by  the  legislature.  Senate  joint  resolution  11 
provides  that  the  State  shall  render  all  necessary  assistance  to  mu- 
nicipal corporations  and  other  public  bodies  to  facilitate  making 
necessary  public  improvements,  and  urges  such  bodies  to  take  im- 
mediate steps  to  promote  such  improvements.  Senate  joint  reso- 
lution 12  provides  that  the  State  shall  take  immediate  steps  to  start 
work  on  good  roads,  the  Great  Lakes-Mississippi  River  Waterway, 
and  other  public  projects. — [111.  Leg.  Synopsis  and  Digest  No.  19, 
June  7,  1919.] 

A  bill  was  enacted  June  17  providing  for  the  construction,  opera- 
tion, and  maintenance  of  a  deep  waterway  from  Chicago  to  a  point 
in  the  Illinois  River  at  or  near  Utica,  to  be  known  as  the  Illinois 
Waterway.  The  issuance  of  bonds  to  the  amount  of  $20,000,000 
has  been  authorized  to  carry  on  this  work. — [Laws  of  Illinois,  1919, 
p.  978.] 

In  an  interview,  the  managing  director  of  the  Chicago  plan  com- 
mission stated  that  the  need  of  city  planning,  and  the  pushing  of 


86  UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

public  work  is  greater  to-da}^  tliaa  ever  before,  not  only  because 
public  work  needs  to  be  done  to  aid  in  the  solution  of  the  labor  prob- 
lem, but  because  new  conditions  can  not  be  coped  with  for  the  well- 
being  of  the  people  without  a  definite  city  plan  to  work  to.  It  was 
stated  that  the  war  has  vivified  the  necessity  of  plans  for  city  build- 
ing. Instead  of  the  war  Setting  the  work  back,  it  was  stated  that  it 
had  pushed  it  ahead  10  j^ears  by  awakening  the  community  to 
realize  what  it  means.  In  Chicago,  it  enabled  the  city  plan  com- 
mission to  prepare  a  platform  of  23  projects  and  to  get  the  press 
of  the  city  united  for  the  plan,  with  civic  organizations  behind  it  to 
aid  in  putting  it  through. — [Christian  Science  Monitor,  Boston, 
Mass.,  Mar.  13,  1919.] 

Chicago  will  carry  a  budget  for  $11,238,028  this  year  for  various 
public  improvements.  The  chief  item  of  expenditure  will  be  for 
new  bridges,  others  are  for  street  improvements  and  water-front 
improvements.  This  work  will  place  many  jobless  service  men.  The 
cit}^  will  pay  $1.60  a  day  for  unskilled  labor. — [Tribune,  Chicago, 
111.,  Mar.  15,  1919.] 

The  Chicago  plan  commission  will  urge  the  city  council  to  insti- 
tute immediate  steps  toward  the  completion  of  the  vast  program 
of  public  improvement  construction,  covering  several  hundred  mil- 
lions of  dollars,  in  order  to  effect  necessary  improvements  and  pro- 
vide employment  for  labor.  The  program  includes  the  extension 
and  widening  of  streets,  terminal  construction,  lake-front  improve- 
ments and  bridge  construction.  The  movement  depends  in  part 
upon  an  authorization  by  the  State  legislature  permitting  the  city 
of  Chicago  to  issue  more  bonds. — [Report  of  State  council  of  de- 
fense to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  June  10,  1919.] 

Reconstruction  Conference. 

At  a  conference  recently  called  by  the  governor  of  the  committee 
on  reconstruction  problems  appointed  by  the  State  federation  of  la- 
bor and  the  State  manufacturers'  association,  representatives  of  labor 
and  capital  met.  The  governor,  in  calling  the  conference,  acted  on  the 
theory  that  if  the  problems  and  difficulties  of  the  future  were  to  be 
met  successfully,  the  old  isolation  of  labor  on  the  one  hand  and  capital 
on  the  other  must  be  broken  down.  The  records  of  the  conference 
do  not  disclose  a  single  divided  vote  upon  any  question  considered  by 
it.— [Christian  Science  Monitor,  Boston,  Mass.,  Feb.  22,  1919.] 

Reconstruction  Program. 

A  State  labor  party  Avas  recently  organized  at  Springfield.  The 
platform  consists  of  23  planks,  the  most  significant  of  which  de- 
clare for  democratic  control  of  industrj^  and  commerce ;  the  right  to 
organize  and  deal  with  employers  collectively;  freedom  from  eco- 
nomic hazard,  based  upon  the  minimum  wage  as  related  to  the  cost  of 


ILLINOIS.  87 

living  without  the  Labor  of  mothers  and  children;  the  eight-hour  day 
and  forty-four-hour  week ;  abolition  of  child  labor ;  the  extension  of 
Federal  and  State  employment  service  to  finding  jobs  for  workers, 
rather  than  workers  for  jobs ;  the  prevention  of  the  placing  of  work- 
ers in  positions  that  do  not  pay  a  living  wage ;  a  democratic  system  of 
public  education  from  kindergarten  to  universsity  affording  oppor- 
tunity for  full  cultural  and  vocational  education  for  every  child,  with 
free  textbooks  bearing  the  union  label ;  application  of  such  restorative 
treatment  to  disabled  industrial  workers  as  is  afforded  disabled  sol- 
diers; old  age  and  health  insurance,  compensation  for  injury,  and 
mothers'  pensions:  graduated  taxation  of  inheritances  and  incomes 
and  of  land  values,  but  not  of  improvements;  public  ownership  and 
operation  of  all  public  utilities,  including  grain  elevators,  warehouses, 
stockyards,  abattoirs,  water  power,  mines,  insurance,  and  banks ;  the 
development  of  cooperative  stores  and  factories ;  and  State  aid  to  pro- 
vide land  and  homes  for  Illinois  residents  in  town  or  country.  Fur- 
ther policies  were  declared  to  be  the  abolition  of  the  State  senate, 
of  the  contract  system  for  State  work,  and  of  the  power  of  judges 
to  issue  and  enforce  injunctions  depriving  citizens  of  their  rights  in 
industrial  disputes,  foremost  among  which  is  trial  by  jury  for  con- 
tempt of  court  committed  elsewhere  than  in  the  presence  of  the 
court.— [Survey,  ISiew  York,  N.  Y.,  May  10,  1919.] 

Registration  of  Discharge  Papers. 

An  act,  approved  March  27,  requires  recorders  to  record,  free  of 
charge,  in  separate  books,  certificates  of  discharge  of  honorably  dis- 
charged United  States  soldiers  and  sailors. — [Laws  of  Illinois,  1919, 
p.  404.] 

Rehabilitation  of  Physically  Handicapped  Persons. 

According  to  an  act,  approved  June  28,  a  school  of  rehabilitation 
for  physically  handicapped  persons  over  IG  years  of  age,  subject  to 
the  direction  of  the  State  department  of  public  welfare,  will  be  cre- 
ated. The  main  rehabilitation  school  will  be  maintained  in  one  of  the 
large  cities  in  the  State  and  other  subordinate  institutions  of  simi- 
lar nature  will  be  established  at  other  places  wherever  needed.  In 
addition,  the  department  is  authorized  to  arrange  with  State  and 
local  school  authorities  and  with  any  public  or  private  organization 
for  training  courses  in  small  centers.  Physically  handicapped  per- 
sons will  be  given  maintenance  amounting  to  $10  a  week  for  20 
weeks,  and  will  be  furnished,  at  cost,  with  artificial  limbs  and  other 
appliances,  to  be  paid  for  in  easy  instalments.  The  measure  pro- 
vides for  cooperation  with  hospitals  and  other  sources  of  informa- 
tion as  a  means  of  learning  who  might  need  attention,  and  with  the 
department  of  labor  in  order  to  find  employment  for  persons  re- 
habilitated.—[111.  Leg.  Synopsis  and  Digest,  No.  21,  June  30,  1919.] 


88  UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

A  drive  is  on  nndef  tlie  direction  of  the  service  league  for  the 
handicapped,  by  which  the  league  hopes  to  arouse  public  interest 
to  the  extent  of  establishing  in  Chicago  a  permanent  institute  for  the 
handicapped.  The  league  is  also  assisting  disabled  soldiers  to  secure 
employment. — [News,  Chicago,  111.,  Mar.  10,  1919.] 
School  Gardens. 

School  gardens  are  being  conducted  in  170  cities  and  towns,  the 
total  present  enrollment  in  the  State  being  284,977.  In  Chicago  dur- 
ing the  season  of  1919  there  were  90,000  children  enrolled. — [Letter 
from  U.  S.  School  Garden  Army  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  De- 
fense, Nov.  1,  1919.] 

Suffrage  for  Returned  Service  Men. 

Upon  compliance  with  certain  conditions,  discharged  service  men 
who  were  unable  to  register  because  of  their  service  wdth  the  mili- 
tary or  naval  forces  will  be  permitted  to  vote  under  the  terms  of  an 
act  approved  March  26. — [Laws  of  Illinois,  1919,  p.  525.] 

Vocational  Education. 

The  State  legislature  has  passed  the  bill  for  vocational  education. 
Illinois  authorities  may  now  take  advantage  of  the  Federal  voca- 
tional education  aid  act.  Under  this  bill  by  1920  the  State  will 
obtain  $400,000  from  the  Federal  Government  for  use  of  promoting 
vocational  education,  A  board  will  be  established,  with  the  super- 
intendent of  public  instruction  as  executive  officer,  to  cooperate  with 
the  Federal  A^ocational  education  authorities  for  the  purpose  of 
instituting  schools  and  classes. — [Laws  of  Illinois,  1919,  p.  928.] 

Vocational  Reeducation  of  Disabled  Service  Men. 

Chicago's  high  schools,  with  their  technical  and  commercial  courses, 
are  to  be  opened  to  the  wounded  soldiers  now  in  the  hospitals  about 
the  city.  Those  whose  wounds  have  incapacitated  them  for  their 
former  work  will  be  given  the  opportunity  without  cost  to  study  new 
trades  and  professions.; — [Examiner,  Chicago,  111.,  Feb.  11,  1919.] 

In  accordance  with  section  2  of  the  Federal  vocational  rehabilita- 
tion act  of  June  27,  1918,  as  amended  July  11,  1919,  arrangements 
had  been  made  up  to  October  25,  1919,  by  the  Federal  Board  for 
Vocational  Education  with  56  educational  institutions  in  the  State 
for  the  reeducation  of  service  men  to  overcome  the  handicap  of 
disabilities  incurred  in  the  service.  A  total  of  778  such  men  have 
been  sent  to  these  institutions  for  training.  Arrangements  have 
also  been  made  by  this  board  with  26  industrial  establishments  in 
the  State  whereby  the  latter  have  undertaken  to  train  a  total  of  26 
disabled  men. — [Compiled  from  statement  prepared  by  Rehabilita- 
tion Division,  Federal  Board  for  Vocational  Education.] 


INDIANA.  89 

"Welfare  of  Returned  Service  Men. 

The  Illinois  Welcome  Home  Committee  lias  opened  a  clubhouse 
in  New  York  City  for  Illinois  soldiers  returning  from  overseas. 
The  committee  has  requested  the  mayors  of  Illinois  cities  to  aid  in 
the  movement.  The  cities  are  asked  to  invite  the  service  men  to 
come  speedily  home  and  to  inform  them  that  jobs  await  them. — 
[Union,  Rock  Island,  111.,  Apr.  7, 1919.] 

The  State  council  of  defense  is  taking  steps  to  prevent  the  pre- 
sentation of  entertainments  by  questionable  societies  and  organiza- 
tions. This  work  comes  under  the  license  committee  of  the  State 
council  of  defense,  which  is  still  functioning. —  [Report  of  State 
council  of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  June  10, 
1919.] 

INDIANA. 
Americanization. 

Two  bills  have  been  introduced  in  the  State  legislature,  but  failed 
to  pass,  affecting  electors  who  are  unfamiliar  with  the  English  lan- 
guage. One  would  strike  from  the  election  laws  the  provision  that 
instructions  to  voters  may  be  printed  in  foreign  languages.  The 
other  would  prevent  election  officers  from  assisting  voters,  except  in 
cases  of  physical  disabilities.  This  would  mean  that  assistance  could 
not  be  given  because  of  lack  of  knoAvleclge  of  the  English  language. — • 
[News,  Indianapolis,  Ind.,  Feb.  21,  1919.] 
Assistance  for  Service  Men. 

Legal  advice  is  furnished  upon  request  to  returned  soldiers  through 
legal  advice  boards  established  in  the  counties. — [Letter  from  the 
adjutant  general  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  24, 
1919.] 

•'Eack-to-School "  Drive. 

The  "  Back-to-school "  drive  and  the  "  Stay-in-school "  campaign 
were  well  organized  in  spite  of  the  postponements  due  to  influenza. 
If  parent-teacher  clubs  were  organized  in  the  schools,  this  work 
was  given  to  them;  where  no  such  clubs  existed,  a  group  of  mothers 
residing  near  each  schoolhouse  was  suggested  as  the  committee. — 
[Report  of  child  conservation  section  of  the  Field  Division  to  U.  S. 
Council  of  National  Defense,  Oct.  1, 1918,  to  July  1,  1919.] 

Business  Readjustment. 

Reports  to  an  Indianapolis  newspaper  from  scores  of  correspond- 
ents in  the  State  show  an  optimistic  frame  of  mind  about  the  volume 
and  diversity  of  commerce  and  industry  for  the  year  1919.  These 
reports  are  borne  out  and  supplemented  by  the  survey  of  the  State 
council  of  defense  as  to  the  amount  of  public  building  and  road, 
f-treet,  and  sewer  work  that  is  under  contract  or  contemplated  for 
the  year.  Private  building  projects  now  under  consideration  in  the 
State  run  into  tens  of  millions  of  dollars.    Foremost  among  indus- 


90  UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

trial  enterprises  are  the  extension  of  the  immense  manufucturing 
plants  at  South  Bend,  involving  several  millions;  and  additions  t^ 
the  steel  industries  of  the  Gary  and  Calumet  districts,  involving 
several  millions  more.  The  spirit  of  Indiana  business,  according  to 
the  analysis  of  leaders  in  many  manufacturing  and  commercial  cen- 
ters, is  not  to  wait  on  readjustment  and  the  transition  to  a  peace 
basis ;  but  to  hasten  the  realization  of  a  complete  transition  by 
going  ahead  on  a  peace  basis,  writing  new  orders,  and  manufacturing 
new  stock  to  bill  to  them. — [Star,  Indianapolis,  Ind.,  Mar.  3,  1919.] 
Community  Houses. 

The  desire  to  honor  returned  soldiers  is  leading  to  the  establish- 
ment of  community  houses  in  some  parts  of  the  State.  An  enabling 
act  was  passed  by  the  legislature  and  approved  March  14.  No 
county  may  erect  more  than  one  memorial  at  the  expense  of  the 
county,  and  the  cost  must  not  exceed  2  per  cent  of  the  assessed 
valuation  of  the  real  estate  of  the  county  or  city  wherein  such  mem- 
orial is  to  be  erected. — [Laws  of  Indiana,  1919,  ch.  115.] 

Council  of  Defense. 

The  State  council  has  been  permanently  dissolved,  as  w^ell  as  its 
entire  S3'stem  of.  county  and  community  councils.  Woman's  work 
was,  however,  transferred  to  the  State  chamber  of  commerce  and 
the  speakers'  bureau  to  the  extension  division  of  the  State  university. 
The  county  councils  before  their  final  dissolution  assisted  in  the  es- 
tablishment of  employment  bureaus  for  returning  soldiers  and  sailor,:; 
and  the  apprehension  of  deserters. — [Reply  from  State  council  of 
defense  to  questionnaire  of  the  Field  Division,  U.  S.  CJouncil  of  Na- 
tional Defense,  July  7,  1919.] 

Employment. 

A  complete  reorganization  of  the  employment  service  in  Indiana 
will  be  made  under  a  bill  which  has  been  passed  by  the  legislature, 
approved  March  15.  The  governor  is  required  to  appoint  a 
State  employment  commission  within  30  days,  consisting  of  seven 
members,  two  of  whom  shall  represent  employers,  two  employees,  and 
two,  one  of  them  a  woman,  the  disinterested  public,  and  the  seventh, 
the  chairman,  shall  be  chosen  for  his  fitness  to  direct  the  work.  The 
employment  commission  will  establish  free  employment  offices  in  the 
larger  cities  of  the  State  and  will  maintain  five  divisions,  as  follows : 
Men's  section,  women's  section,  farm-labor  section,  soldiers'  and 
sailors'  section,  and  juniors'  section  for  minors.  The  duties  of  the 
soldiers'  and  sailors'  section  include:  Complete  cooperation  with  tlie 
Federal  Board  for  Vocational  Education;  a  division  for  rehabilita- 
tion of  crippled  soldiers  and  sailors  in  endeavoring  to  secure  suitable 
employment ;  and  fair  treatment  of  the  veterans  of  the  World  War. 
The   commission  is  empowered  to  enter  into   arrangements  with 


INDIANA.  91 

municipalities  or  other  agencies  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  out  the 
vocational  requirements  laid  down  in  the  new  law.  A  sum  of  $38,000 
a  year  is  appropriated  to  the  State  employment  commission;  and 
it  is  expected  that  by  cooperation  with  the  Federal  authorities,  tak- 
ing advantage  of  Federal  franks  on  postage  and  telegraph,  and 
receiving  some  money  from  the  Federal  Government,  considerable 
progress  can  be  made  in  carrying  out  the  provisions  laid  down  in 
the  new  law. — [Laws  of  Indiana,  1919,  ch.  192.] 

Various  organizations  have  been  formed  for  the  purpose  of 
arranging  for  employment  for  returned  soldiers. — [Letter  from  the 
adjutant  general  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  21, 
1919.] 

It  is  announced  through  the  various  labor  unions  in  the  State  that 
employment  preference  is  given  to  returned  soldiers  and  sailors. 
Mechanics  and  skilled  workers  in  every  line  are  finding  little  diffi- 
culty in  obtaining  work.  The  idle  men  are  largely  common  laborers, 
and  these,  it  is  believed,  will  soon  be  employed  on  the  large  amount 
of  public  construction  which  will  soon  be  under  way  in  the  State. — ■ 
[Star,  Indianapolis,  Ind.,  Apr.  2,  1919.] 

No  unemployment  problem  exists  in  Indiana.  To  the  contrary, 
there  is  a  labor  shortage,  and  any  soldier  who  desires  employment  in 
the  State  can  find  it  without  any  difficulty. — [Letter  from  the  gov- 
ernor to  IT.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense.  May  29,  1919.] 

Emploj-mont  offices  maintained  in  Indiana  by  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment in  cooperation  with  Sta\e  and  local  organizations  report  that 
during  the  six  months'  period  from  January  1  to  June  30,  1919, 
41,031  persons  were  registered  who  were  seeking  employment; 
34,305  requests  for  employees  were  received ;  and  22,022  persons  were 
placed  by  these  offices. — [Compiled  from  statistics  furnished  by  U.  S. 
Employment  Service,  Aug.  8,  1919.] 

The  War  and  Navy  Departments'  citation  has  been  issued  to  2.90C> 
firms  in  Indiana,  these  employers  having  assured  the  War  and  Navy 
Departments  that  they  v/ill  reemploy  everybody  who  formerly 
worked  with  them  and  left  to  serve  in  the  Army  and  Navy  during 
the  World  War. — [Memorandum  from  assistant  to  the  Secretary  of 
AVar  in  the  replacement  of  service  men  to  civil  life,  to  U.  S.  Council 
of  National  Defense,  Nov.  20,  1919.] 

Reports  of  the  Indiana  employment  bureau  at  Evansvillc  concern- 
ing its  work  during  the  Avinter  indicate  that  its  "  Odd-jobs  "  cam- 
paign conducted  in  this  part  of  Indiana  for  soldiers  from  Kentucky, 
Indiana,  and  southern  Illinois  was  successful.  The  hunt  for  "  odd 
jobs"  was  made  in  behalf  of  soldiers  from  the  three  States  who  be- 
came stranded  in  this  vicinity.  The  temporary  and  miscellaneous 
jobs  obtained  for  the  soldiers  assisted  practically  all  thus  employed 
to  x>ioceed  on  their  way  home  or  to  places  where  they  could  obtain 


92'  UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

more  profitable  and  pleasant  work. — [Herald,  Louisville,  Ky.,  Mar. 
28,  1919.] 

Owing  to  the  failure  of  Congress  to  appropriate  funds  to  carry  on 
the  work  of  the  Federal  employment  service,  the  Indianapolis  united 
war- work  coordination  committee  has  decided  to  make  a  further 
appeal  for  volunteer  cooperation  in  carrying  on  the  work.  Indianap- 
olis employers  have  been  appealed  to  repeatedly  to  list  their  oppor- 
tunities with  the  employment  bureau.  The  committee  indorsed  the 
action  of  the  advertising  managers  of  Indianapolis  newspapers  who 
have  declined  to  print  classified  advertisements  which  had  for  their 
object  the  commercializing  of  the  Federal  uniform,  for  the  purpose 
of  enriching  unscrupulous  distributors  of  songs,  lithographs,  etc.— 
[Times,  Indianapolis,  Ind.,  Mar.  19,  1919.] 

The  South  Bend  Chamber  of  Commerce  bureau  for  the  care  of  re- 
turned soldiers  is  rapidly  completing  its  task  of  securing  positions 
for  South  Bend  men  who  are  in  the  service  and  expecting  to  be  dis- 
charged within  the  near  future.  This  work  is  being  accomplished 
in  conjunction  with  the  United  States  Employment  Service.  Blanks 
which  were  sent  out  to  employers  of  labor  in  the  county  for  the  tabu- 
lation of  places  open  to  returning  soldiers  are  being  returned,  and 
almost  without  exception  employers  promise  to  place  the  men  in  the 
jobs  which  they  vacated  to  enter  the  war.  The  bureau  also  proposes 
to  give  special  attention  to  men  who  have  become  crippled  in  the 
service  and  whose  disabilities  will  prevent  them  from  resuming  their 
old  positions. — [Publication  of  South  Bend  Chamber  of  Commerce, 
January,  1919.] 
German  Language  in  Schools. 

Among  the  important  bills  passed  by  the  legislature  concerning 
education  is  one,  approved  February  25,  providing  for  the  elimina- 
tion of  German  from  elementary  schools,  both  public  and  private, 
and  also  from  public  high  schools. — [Laws  of  Indiana,  1919,  ch.  18.] 
Highways. 

In  view  of  the  recent  decision  of  the  State  supreme  court  uphold- 
ing the  validity  of  the  statute  under  which  the  State  highway  com- 
mission operates,  it  is  proposed  to  start  immediately  construction  on 
approximately  120  miles  of  main  market  highways  from  Indianapo- 
lis to  South  Bend. — [Engineering  News-Eecord,  New  York,  N.  Y., 
Jan.  23,  1919.] 

The  State  highway  commissioner  advises  that  there  are  available 
for  the  year  1919  about  $1,500,000  of  State  funds  for  highway  con- 
struction, also  the  same  amount  of  Federal-aid  funds.  It  is  likely 
that  counties  and  townships  of  the  State  will  issue  $6,000,000  or 
$8,000,000  worth  of  bonds  this  year  for  road  construction  purposes. — 
[Bulletin  No.  47,  Highways  Transport  Committee,  U.  S.  Council  of 
National  Defense.] 


INDIA:tTA.  93 

On  October  1,  1919,  18  highway  projects  had  been  approved  by 
the  State,  involving  the  improvement  of  383.5  miles  of  road  at  a  total 
estimated  cost  of  $14,577,435,  of  AA^hich  the  Federal  Government  is 
requested  to  pay  $6,912,446.80  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of 
the  Federal-aid  road  act  of  July  11,  1916,  as  amended  by  the  act  of 
February  28,  1919. — [Statement  prepared  by  Bureau  of  Public 
Roads,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture.] 

Housing  Accommodations. 

The  county  unit  of  the  Woman's  Committee,  United  States  Coun- 
cil of  National  Defense,  has  pledged  the  efforts  of  its  members  to 
assist  in  making  a  housing  survey,  aiming  at  betterment  of  living 
conditions  for  citizens  of  Muncie. — [Star,  Muncie,  Inch,  May  23, 
1919.] 

Information  Service  for  Eetumed  Service  Men. 

The  local  branches  of  the  American  Red  Cross  are  cooperating 
with  other  organizations  in  establishing  contacts  with  service  men 
for  the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  adjustment  of  their  allotments, 
allowance  accounts,  compensation  and  claims,  and  the  reinstatement 
of  lapsed  or  canceled  insurance.  It  is  the  desire  of  the  Bureau  of 
War  Risk  Insurance  that  all  inquiries  of  this  nature  be  cleared 
through  the  home-service  sections  of  the  American  Red  Cross.  Up 
to  April  1,  1919,  the  American  Red  Cross  had  organized  in  Indiana 
467  units  with  a  total  of  1,166  workers. — [Statement  prepared  by 
American  National  Red  Cross  for  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
November,  1919.] 

Land  Settlement. 

On  April  25  the  governor  wrote  that  "no  plans  have  been  made 
for  soldier  settlements  in  Indiana  for  the  reason  that  there  is  no  un- 
occupied land  in  the  State,  and  plans  which  might  be  feasible  in 
other  States  would  not  be  practicable  here." — [Memorandum  from 
Reclamation  Service,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  the  Interior  to  U.  S.  Council  of 
National  Defense,  July  1,  1919.] 

Marketing  Products. 

The  Elkhart  farmers'  institute  has  gone  on  record  as  favoring 
close  State  and  national  association  of  farmers  during  the  recon- 
struction period,  in  order  to  promote  marketing  of  products  and 
regulate  the  acreage  of  foodstuffs  necessary  to  supply  the  demands 
of  the  country.  A  resolution  was  also  adopted  urging  the  main- 
tenance of  the  fixed  price  for  grain  during  the  year  1919. — [News, 
Indianapolis,  Ind.,  Feb.  3,  1919.] 

Motor  Transport  Service. 

The  State  highways  transport  committee  has  just  completed  re- 
organization of  the  State  along  motor  transport  lines,  this  recon- 
struction taking  in  all  angles  of  modern  highways  transportation, 


s 


94  UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTlOlSr. 

iucluding  rural  express  routes,  return-load  bureaus,  etc. — [Memo- 
randum from  Highways  Transport  Committee,  U.  S.  Council  of 
Is^'ational  Defense,  July  23,  1919.] 

Preference  to  Returned  Service  Men  in  Public  Employment. 

The  governor  signed  the  bill  March  11,  providing  that  soldiers 
and  sailors  discharged  because  of  wounds  or  sickness  shall  be  given 
preference  in  all  civil  appointments,  provided  thej^  are  qualified. — ■ 
[Laws  of  Indiana,  1919,  ch.  65.] 
Public  Works. 

Eeports  received  in  January,  1919,  cover  105  public  building  and' 
construction  projects  which  were  under  way  or  contemplated  in  the 
State,  aggregating  an  estimated  value  of  $12,305,000.  Of  this  num- 
ber 57  were  street  improvements,  estimated  to  cost  $6,815,000;  and 
12  were  schools,  estimated  to  cost  $1,430,000. — [Statistics  compiled 
by  Division  of  Public  Works  and  Construction  Develoj)ments,  U.  S. 
Dept.  of  Labor,  Apr.  IT,  1919.] 
Reconstruction  Conference. 

In  a  call  issued  November  1,  the  govenior  asked  the  people  of 
the  State  to  meet  with  him  on  November  26,  at  the  State  capitol, 
in  the  first  State-wide  conference  thus  far  called,  to  discuss  plans 
for  the  reconstruction  of  the  State's  commercial,  industrial,  agricul- 
tural, and  social  fabric  so  far  as  it  has  been  affected  by  the  war. — 
[Plain  Dealer,  Cleveland,  Ohio,  Nov.  20,  1918.] 

The  governor  in  his  address  opening  tile  reconstruction  confer- 
ence, convened  in  response  to  his  call,  advocated  an  immediate  an- 
nouncement on  the  part  of  the  Federal  Government  of  an  intention 
to  return  to  their  owners  as  soon  as  possible  the  properties  taken 
mider  the  war  emergency  act,  under  such  limitations  and  with  such 
measure  of  control  as  would  fully  protect  the  public  interest.  As 
to  obtaining  employment  for  soldiers,  he  stated  that  he  did  not  be- 
lieve this  would  present  a  serious  problem  in  view  of  prospective 
industrial  activity  and  the  resumption  of  public  construction  proj- 
ects. He  recommended  consideration  of  the  various  problems  af- 
fecting labor  and  those  pertaining  to  the  manufacturing  and  com- 
mercial intiirests,  also  of  problems  concerning  the  future  of  women 
in  industries.  Other  questions  to  which  he  directed  attention  in- 
cluded education,  health,  road  construction,  and  agriculture.  He 
also  stated  that  following  this  conference  he  believed  that  a  State 
commission  on  reconstruction  and  readjustment  should  be  organized 
to  investigate  matters  which  are  by  this  conference,  or  future  de- 
Aelopments,  considered  important  in  aiding  the  State  to  meet  prob- 
k^ms  of  readjustment;  to  act  as  a  clearing  house  for  the  various 
interests;  to  have  advisory  powers;  and  to  make  recommendations 
for  the  public  welfare. — [Journal-Gazette,  Fort  Wayne,  Ind.,  Nov. 
27,  1918.] 


INDIANA.  95 

Upon  invitation  of  the  governor,  30  national  and  State  organiza- 
tions, voluntaiy  and  official,  in  the  field,  of  social  welfare  met  at 
Indianapolis  on  June  2J:  to  consider  a  program  for  reconstruction 
and  readjustment.  Each  agency  told  its  plans,  purposes,  and  hopes, 
and  the  outcome  was  the  appointment  of  a  committee  to  digest  the 
material  presented  and  to  prepare  a  State  program  based  on  it,  to 
be  discussed  at  a  subsequent  meeting  of  the  same  agencies. — [Survey, 
New  York,  N.  Y.,  July  12,  1919.] 
Refund  of  Payments  for  Uniforms. 

House  bill  366  provides  for  the  refund  to  federalized  National 
Guardsmen  of  Indiana  of  $13.31,  which  they  paid  the  adjutant  gen- 
eral for  uniforms  when  drafted  into  the  Federal  service. — [Informa- 
tion Bureau,  American  National  Eed  Cross,  Compendium  Change 
No.  117.] 

Rights  and  Privileges  of  Service  Men  and  Their  Families. 

House  bill  190  provides  that  soldiers  and  sailors,  their  widows 
and  orphans,  of  the  late  war  with  Germany,  shall  have  all  the  rights 
and  privileges  held  and  enjoyed  by  soldiers  and  sailors  of  the  late 
Civil  War,  the  war  with  Spain,  the  war  in  the  Philippine  Islands, 
or  in  the  regular  service  of  the  United  States. — [Information  Bu- 
reau, American  National  Red  Cross,  Compendium  Change,  No.  117.] 

Roadside  Markets. 

The  State  highways  transport^  committee  is  establishing  roadside 
markets.  This  will  enable  truckers  operating  out  of  Indianapolis 
to  buy  all  available  commodities  of  farmers  along  routes  operated 
by  them.  Next  it  is  planned  to  provide  a  market  in  Indianapolis 
where  products  purchased  by  the  truckers  may  be  sold.  The  plan 
is  expected  to  be  a  success;  the  trucker,  farmer,  and  consumer  being 
materially  aided  through  this  operation. — [Memorandum  from 
Highways  Transport  Committee,  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
July  23,  1919.] 

School  Gardens. 

School' gardens  are  being  conducted  in  88  cities  and  towns,  the 
total  present  enrollment  in  the  State  being  144,714.  In  Indianapolis 
during  the  season  of  1919  there  were  20,997  children  enrolled. — [Pre- 
pared from  material  furnished  by  U.  S.  School  Garden  Army  to 
U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Nov.  1,  1919.] 

Tax  Exemption  for  Service  Men. 

An  act  was  approved  exempting  service  men  from  penalties  for 
delinquency  in  the  payment  of  taxes. — [Laws  of  Indiana,  1919,  ch. 
159.] 

An  act  was  also  approved  exempting  from  inheritance  taxes  es- 
tates up  to  $25,000,  of  service  men  ching  during  the  war  as  a  result 
of  injuries  received  therein. — [Laws  of  Indiana,  1919,  ch.  224.] 


96  UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  EECONSTRUCTION. 

Teachers  Returning  from  Service. 

A  law  was  enacted  providing  that  the  time  spent  in  the  military 
or  naval  service  by  teachers  shall  count  as  teaching  experience  in 
determining  their  "  success  grades." — [Laws  of  Indiana,  1919,  ch. 
128.] 

Vocational  Education  of  Service  Men. 

The  legislature  amended  the  vocational  education  law  to  conform 
*to  the  Federal  law,  one  section  in  the  newly  created  State  employ- 
ment commission  being  devoted  to  soldiers  and  sailors. — [Survey, 
New  York,  N.  Y.,  Apr.  26,  1919,  p.  150.] 

Vocational  Reeducation  of  Disabled  Service  Men. 

All  Indianapolis  agencies  which  can  give  aid  in  training  and  plac- 
ing disabled  soldiers  and  sailors  are  prepared  to  start  the  work  as 
soon  as  details  of  the  Government's  scheme  of  work  is  available  as 
a  guide.  It  is  announced  that  the  Chairman  of  the  Federal  Board 
for  Vocational  Education  will  visit  Indianapolis  soon  to  present 
the  board's  plans,  which  have  in  view  the  cooperation  of  employers 
in  all  cities  in  the  caring  for  about  100,000  disabled  men. — [Star, 
Indianapolis,  Ind.,  Apr.  2,  1919.] 

The  State  director  of  vocational  education  is  planning  a 
State-wide  conference  of  persons  interested  in  doing  something  to 
help  disabled  soldiers  learn  useful  occupations.  Eepresentatives  of 
the  county  councils  of  defense  and  active  school  men  will  be  invited 
to  attend  the  conference,  so  that  a  definite  plan  to  assist  the  returned 
disabled  soldiers  may  be  laid. — [News,  Indianapolis,  Ind.,  Apr.  4, 
1919.] 

In  accordance  with  section  2  of  the  Federal  vocational  rehabilita- 
tion act  of  June  27,  1918,  as  amended  July  11,  1919,  arrangements 
had  been  made  up  to  October  25,  1919,  by  the  Federal  Board  for 
Vocational  Education  with  26  educational  institutions  in  the  State 
for  the  reeducation  of  service  men  to  overcome  the  handicap  of 
disabilities  incurred  in  the  service.  A  total  of  247  such  men  have 
been  sent  to  these  institutions  for  training.  Arrangements  have 
also  been  made  by  this  board  with  23  industrial  establishments  in 
the  State  whereby  the  latter  have  undertaken  to  train  a  total  of  40 
disabled  men. — [Compiled  from  statement  prepared  by  Rehabilita- 
tion Division,  Federal  Board  for  Vocational  Education.] 
Woman's  Committee. 

The  organization  of  a  woman's  council  of  the  'State  chamber  of 
commerce  is  being  effected,  and  this  new  body  will  take  over  the 
general  duties  and  practically  the  machinery  of  the  State  division 
of  the  Woman's  Committee,  United  States  Council  of  National  De- 
fense. The  executive  committee  includes  district  chairmen  who 
served  under  the  State  division.     County  and  district  officers  will  be 


IOWA. 


97 


elective,  and  they  in  turn  ^Yill  elect  the  State  officers  in  the  future, 
so  that  the  organization  for  the  present  is  only  tentative.  The  pur- 
pose of  the  new  woman's  council  will  be  to  coordinate  the  activities 
of  women's  organizations  in  the  interests  of  civic  betterment,  just 
as  the  State  division  coordinated  them  for  the  prosecution  of  the 
war.  It  is  expected  that  the  woman's  council  will  become  a  depart- 
ment of  each  local  chamber  of  commerce.— [News,  Indianapolis,  Ind., 
Feb.  24,  1919.] 

IOWA. 

Americanization.  — 

There  is  pending  in  the  State  legislature  house  bill  F.  85  re- 
quiring instruction  in  citizenship  and  partiotism  in  the  public  and 
private  schools. — [School  Life,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  the  Interior,  Mar.  16, 
1919.] 

A  committee  of  15  has  been  appointed  to  take  charge  of  Ameri- 
canization work.  The  committee  is  already  at  work  cooperating  in 
carrying  out  plans  for  the  State. — [Memorandum  from  Americani- 
zation division,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  the  Interior  to  U.  S.  Council  of 
National  Defense,  July  23,  1919.] 

The  educational  director  of  the  school  for  the  training  of  aliens 
advises  that  his  class  at  Cedar  Eapids  meets  three  times  a  week- 
Monday,  Wednesday,  and  Friday  nights — and  that  there  is  an  en- 
rollment of  35  with  an  average  attendance  of  25.  His  class  uses  the 
textbook  prepared  by  the  Commissioner  of  Naturalization. 

The  examiner  reports  that  his  plan  for  Butler  County  is  to  organ- 
ize a  class  in  each  of  the  small  towns  where  there  is  a  need  and  to 
leave  the  instruction  of  this  class  to  the  superintendent  of  the  school 
at  that  point  or  to  some  iDrofessional  man  there.  They  have  no 
funds  with  which  to  engage  a  regular-paid  instructor,  but  it  is  hoped 
some  of  the  public-school  men  will  be  willing  to  donate  their  time  in 
the  cause  of  Americanization. 

The  chairman  of  the  Clinton  County  council  of  defense  says  fail- 
ure to  educate  the  alien  caused  many  young  men  of  foreign  parent- 
age to  oppose  the  draft  and  other  wholly  American  institutions 
during  the  past  strenuous  months. — [Compiled  from  forthcoming 
report  of  director  of  citizenship  to  Commissioner  of  Naturalization, 
U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor,  1920.] 
Assistance  for  Service  Men. 

The  house  appropriations  committee  has  unanimously  recommended 
passage  of  the  bill  providing  aid  for  soldiers  of  this  State  as  they 
arrive  at  various  ports  in  this  country.  With  an  appropriation  of 
$25,000  an  Iowa  Soldiers'  Welfare  Bureau  would  be  created  on  the 
Atlantic  coast,  in  charge  of  an  lowan  residing  in  NeAV  York  City, 
134286°— 20 7 


98  UNITED  STATES  PxEADJUSTMENT   AND  rvECONSTRUCTION. 

where  headquarters  will  be  maintamed, — [Tribune,   Chicago,   "ill., 
Mar.  20,  1919.] 

The  thirty-eighth  general  assembly  appropriated  $25,000  to  be 
used  to  aid  disabled  or  sick  Iowa  soldiers  in  hospitals  in  New  York 
City  and  Chicago. —  [Letter  from  the  adjutant  general  to  The  Home 
Sector,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  July  2,  1919.] 

"  Baek-to-School  "  Drive. 

The  "  Back-to-school "  drive  was  begun  somewhat  late  but  finally 
secured  the  active  enlistment  of  county  chairmen  in  about  one-third 
of  the  counties  of  the  State,  so  distributed  that  the  results  Avould  be 
really  valuable  for  statistical  purposes  in  revealing  the  actual  situa- 
tion in  regard  to  the  number  of  children  leaving  school.  The  work 
Avas  carried  on  with  difficulty,  as  the  excitement  of  war  time  had 
given  place  to  the  lassitude  of  peace. — [Report  of  child  conservation 
section  of  the  Field  Division  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
Oct.  1,  1918,  to  July  1,  1919.] 

Bonuses  for  Service  Men. 

There  is  pending  before  the  legislature  a  bill  providing  for  tho 
giving  of  a  bonus  to  discharged  service  men. — [Telegram  from  the 
adjutant  general  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  24, 
1919.] 
Council  of  Defense. 

The  State  council  of  defense  has  virtually  ceased  to  exist  or 
function,  as  the  resignations  of  its  members  have  been  accepted  by 
the  governor.  However,  the  41  county  councils  will  be  held  intact 
to  deal  with  local  problems  and  the  remaining  war  drives.  A  bill 
has  been  introduced  in  the  legislature  which,  if  passed,  would  estab- 
lish a  permanent  State  council  of  defense. — [News  release  of  State 
council  of  defense,  February,  1919.] 

Employment. 

Eeinstatement  of  returning  soldiers  to  the  public  positions  they 
held  before  going  to  war,  should  they  w^ant  them  and  are  competent, 
is  provided  for  in  a  resolution  unanimously  adopted  by  the  State 
senate.  The  resolution  has  been  sent  to  the  house. — [Herald,  Clin- 
ton, Iowa,  Feb.  8,  1919.] 

A  bill  to  establish  employment  offices  so  that  returning  service  men 
may  be  quickly  placed  in  positions  is  now  pending  before  the  legis- 
lature.— [Telegram  from  the  adjutant  general  to  U.  S.  Council  of 
National  Defense,  Mar.  24,  1919.] 

The  War  Camp  Community  Service  has  visited  many  wholesale 
houses  and  manufacturing  concerns  to  secure  positions  for  dis- 
charged soldiers.  At  the  request  of  the  organization  the  daily  press 
inserted  want  advertisements,  free  of  charge,  for  men  seeking  posi- 


IOWA.  99 

tions  through  the  War  Camp  Community  Service  office. — [Report  of 
War  Camp  Community  Service  for  U.  S.  Council  of  National  De- 
fense, August,  1919.] 

Employment  offices  maintained  in  Iowa  by  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment in  cooperation  with  State  and  local  organizations  report  that 
during  the  six  months'  period  from  January  1  to  June  30, 1919,  84,0G1 
persons  were  registered  who  were  seeking  employment;  66,852  re- 
quests for  employees  were  received ;  and  47,982  persons  were  placed 
by  these  offices. — [Compiled  from  statistics  furnished  by  U.  S.  Em- 
ployment Service,  Aug.  8,  1919.] 

The  War  and  Navy  Departments'  citation  has  been  issued  to  562 
firms  in  Iowa,  these  employers  having  assured  the  War  and  Navy 
Departments  that  they  will  reemploy  everybody  who  formerly 
worked  with  them  and  left  to  serve  in  the  Army  and  Navy  during 
the  World  War. — [Memorandum  from  assistant  to  the  Secretary  of 
War  in  the  replacement  df  service  men  to  civil  life,  to  U.  S.  Council 
of  National  Defense,  Nov.  20,  1919.] 
English  Language  in  Schools. 

There  is  pending  before  the  State  legislature  house  bill  F.  G 
which  would  require  the  use  of  the  English  language  only  in  all  the 
schools  of  the  State  up  to  and  including  the  eighth  grade. — [School 
Life,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  the  Interior,  Apr.  1,  1919.] 

Food  Destruction. 

The  house  of  representatives  has  passed  a  bill  which  prohibits  the 
willful  destruction  or  wasting  of  food.  The  proposed  law  is  aimed 
at  wholesale  food  dealers  who,  it  is  alleged,  are  causing  the  destruc- 
tion of  large  quantities  of  produce  in  order  to  maintain  high  prices. 
The  penalty  for  violation  of  the  bill  is  a  fine  of  $1,000,  or  a  year  in 
jail,  or  both. — [Christian  Science  Monitor,  Boston,  Mass.,  Mar.  26, 
1919.] 

Highways. 

Bills  will  be  introduced  in  the  legislature  to  raise  $5,000,000  a  year 
for  good  roads  instead  of  $2,700,000  as  at  present.  The  permanent 
paving  of  400  miles  per  year  is  favored. — [Tribune,  Chicago,  IlL, 
Jan.  28.] 

The  legislature  has  passed  a  bill  by  which  Iowa,  without  going 
under  bonds,  will  build  roads  on  a  pay-as-you-go  basis,  with  the 
intention  of  completing  6,000  miles  of  a  permanent  surfaced  inter- 
county  highway  system  in  10  years.  Federal  funds  which  will  be 
available  for  this  work  will  amount  to  $8,736,835.  This  money  will 
be  allotted  to  the  99  counties  in  proportion  to  their  areas. — [Better 
Iowa,  Ames,  Iowa,  Mar.  31,  1919.] 

On  October  1,  1919,  41  highway  projects  had  been  approved  by 
the  State,  involving  the  improvement  of  557.23  miles  of  road  at  a- 


100       UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

total  estimated  cost  of  $3,429,455.92,  of  which  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment is  requested  to  pay  $1,223,859.66  in  accordance  with  the  pro- 
visions of  the  Federal-aid  road  act  of  July  11,  1916,  as  amended  by 
the  act  of  February  28,  1919. — [Statement  prepared  by  Bureau  of 
Public  Roads,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture.] 

Information  Service  for  Returned  Service  Men. 

The  local  branches  of  the  American  Red  Cross  are  cooperating 
with  other  organizations  in  establishing  contacts  with  service  men 
for  the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  adjustment  of  their  allotments, 
allowance  accounts,  compensation  and  claims,  and  the  reinstatement 
of  lapsed  or  canceled  insurance.  It  is  the  desire  of  the  Bureau  of 
War  Risk  Insurance  that  all  inquiries  of  this  nature  be  cleared 
through  the  home-service  sections  of  the  American  Red  Cross.  Up 
to  April  1,  1919,  the  American  Red  Cross  had  organized  in  Iowa 
528  units  with  a  total  of  619  workers. — [Statement  prepared  by 
American  National  Red  Cross  for  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Def ense^ 
November,  1919.] 
Land  Settlement. 

There  is  a  bill  pending  before  the  legislature  providing  for  the 
opening  of  lands  for  settlement. — [Telegram  from  the  adjutant  gen- 
eral to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  24,  1919.] 
Loans  to  Service  Men. 

The  committee  on  ways  and  means  of  the  legislature  is  consider- 
ing a  bill  which  would  establish  a  fund  of  $5,000,000  for  the  purpose 
of  making  loans  to  returned  service  men.  Under  this  bill  loans  of 
not  more  than  $2,000  each  would  be  made  to  honorably  discharged 
soldiers,  sailors,  and  marines  on  application.  The  applicant  would 
have  to  be  married  and  would  have  to  invest  the  money  in  property 
for  a  home  within  the  State. — [Register,  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  Mar. 
21,  1919.] 

Public  Works. 

Reports  received  in  January,  1919,  cover  85  public  building  and 
construction  projects  which  were  under  way  or  contemplated  in  the 
State,  aggregating  an  estimated  value  of  $19,835,000.  Of  this  num- 
ber 20  Avere  street  improvements,  estimated  to  cost  $11,125,000;  1 
canal  and  levee,  estimated  to  cost  $2,690,000;  and  14  were  schools, 
estimated  to  cost  $1,495,000. — [Statistics  compiled  by  Division  of 
Public  Works  and  Construction  Developments,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor, 
Apr.  17,  1919.] 

Vocational  Reeducation  of  Disabled  Service  Men. 

In  accordance  with  section  2  of  the  Federal  vocational  rehabilia- 
tion  act  of  June  27,  1918,  as  amended  July  11,  1919,  arrangements 
have  been  made  up  to  October  25,  1919,  by  the  Federal  Board  for 
Vocational  Education  with  17  educational  institutions  in  the  State 


KANSAS.  101 

for  the  reeducation  of  service  men  to  overcome  the  handicap  of  dis- 
abilities incurred  in  the  service.  A  total  of  174  such  men  have  been 
sent  to  these  institutions  for  training.  Arrangements  have  also 
been  made  by  this  board  with  three  industrial  establishments  in  the 
State  whereby  the  latter  have  undertaken  to  train  three  disabled 
men. — [Compiled  from  statement  prepared  by  Rehabilitation  Di- 
vision, Federal  Board  for  Vocational  Education.] 
Woman's  Committee. 

The  work  of  the  State  division  of  the  Woman's  Committee,  United 
States  Council  of  National  Defense,  is  to  continue  after  the  war 
emergency  to  carry  on  the  following  activities :  Child  welfare  Avork ; 
Americanization ;  public  health,  including  women  and  their  relation 
to  industry;  and  women's  organized  financial  work. — [Capital,  Des 
Moines,  Iowa,  Feb.  12,  1919.] 

School  Gardens. 

School  gardens  are  being  conducted  in  Gl  cities  and  towns,  the 
total  present  enrollment  in  the  State  being  19,250. — [Prepared  from 
material  furnished  by  U.  S.  School  Garden  Army  to  U.  S.  Council 
of  National  Defense,  Nov.  1,  1919.] 

KANSAS. 

Americanization. 

An  act,  approved  March  13,  provides  that  all  schools,  public, 
private,  or  parochial,  shall  provide  and  give  a  complete  course  of  in- 
struction to  all  pupils  in  civil  government,  United  States  history, 
and  in  patriotism  and  the  duties  of  a  citizen,  suitable  to  the  elemen- 
tary grades. — [Laws  of  Kansas,  1919,  ch.  257.] 

Assistance  for  Service  Men. 

Under  authority  from  the  governor,  a  club  for  Kansas  soldiers 
and  sailors  has  been  opened  in  New  York  City.  The  club  is  in  charge 
of  a  general  committee  of  various  Kansas  societies  in  New  York 
City,  which  has  its  headquarters  at  the  War  Camp  Community  Serv- 
ice's Hall  of  States,  and  will  send  Kansas  soldiers  to  the  club  from 
there. — [Every  Evening,  Wilmington,  Del.,  Apr.  11,  1919.] 
"  Back-to-Schcol  "  Drive. 

Approximately  20,000  letters  are  being  sent  out  this  week  by  the 
Slate  division  of  the  Woman's  Committee,  United  States  Council  of 
National  Defense,  on  the  "  Back-to-school "  drive.  It  is  antici- 
pated that  the  wide  distribution  of  that  educational  matter  will  have 
a  good  effect  on  the  question  of  child  labor  in  the  State. — [Letter 
from  State  division  of  the  Woman's  Committee  to  U.  S.  Council  of 
National  Defense,  Feb.  18,  1919.] 

Community  Councils. 

A  community  committee  has  been  formed  of  representatives  of  the 
War  Camp  Community  Service,  rotary  clubs,  churches,  lodges,  and 


102        UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

labor  organizations,  to  took  after  service  men's  welfare. — [Letter 
from  chairman,  State  council  of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National 
Defense,  Apr.  9,  1919.] 
Counsel  of  Defense. 

The  governor  gave  out  a  statement  to  the  press  in  the  spring  of 
1919,  terminating  the  organization  of  the  State  council  of  defense. 
This  was  done  upon  the  recommendation  of  the  president  and  the 
secretary  of  the  State  council. — [Report  of  State  division  of  the 
Woman's  Committee  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  July  G, 
1917,  to  May  29,  1919.] 
Employment. 

In  every  farm  bureau  in  the  State  a  subcommittee  on  agricultural 
reconstruction  is  being  appointed  by  the  executive  committee  of  the 
farm  bureau.  These  committees  will  have  charge  of  placing  re- 
turned soldiers  and  sailors  on  farms  in  the  home  communities. — 
[Capital,  Topeka,  Kans.,  Dec.  13,  1918.] 

The  governor,  in  his  inaugural  address,  emphasized  the  need  of 
providing  wholesome  labor  conditions  to  take  care  of  the  temporary 
labor  surplus. — [Beacon,  Wichita,  Kans.,  Jan.  13,  1919.] 

A  house  concurrent  resolution  was  approved  March  4,  re- 
questing employers  to  display  honor  flags  showing  the  number  of 
men  in  their  employ  who  have  returned  from  military  service  and 
have  been  returned  to  their  former  positions  or  better  one§,  the 
honor  flag  to  be  a  square  field  of  blue  with  one  white  star  for  each 
employee  reinstated,  and  one  red  star  for  each  soldier  employed  who 
was  not  formerly  engaged  in  the  service  of  such  employer. — [Laws 
of  Kansas,  1919,  ch.  327.] 

Due  to  the  failure  of  Congress  to  make  an  appropriation  for  the 
work  of  the  Federal  employment  service  in  Kansas,  offices  will  be 
maintained  only  at  Kansas  City,  Topeka,  W^ichita,  and  Camp  Fun- 
ston.  The  Kansas  City  Chamber  of  Commerce  has  taken  over  the 
employment  bureau  in  that  city  and  will  maintain  it  until  Congress 
convenes  and  makes  an  appropriation  for  the  continuance  of  the 
service.  The  Federal  director  for  the  State  has  announced  that  every 
possible  effort  will  be  made  to  supply  the  great  demand  for  men 
that  has  come  from  farmers,  industries,  and  other  sources.  The 
v\- Oman's  division  of  the  service  will  be  maintained,  providing  the 
appropriation  which  has  been  asked  for  from  the  State  is  allowed. — 
[Capital,  Topeka,  Kans.,  Mar.  15,  1919.] 

The  State  labor  commissioner  and  various  employment  agencies 
are  cooperating  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  work  for  returning 
service  men. — [Telegram  from  the  governor  to  U.  S.  Council  of  Na- 
tional Defense,  Mar.  25, 1919.] 


KANSAS.  103 

Employment  offices  maintained  in  Kansas  by  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment in  cooperation  with  State  and  local  organizations  report  that 
during  the  six  months'  period  from  January  1  to  June  30.  1919, 
19,839  persons  were  registered  who  were  seeking  employment;  25,691 
requests  for  employees  were  received;  and  11,991  persons  were  placed 
by  these  offices. — [Compiled  from  statistics  furnished  by  U.  S.  Em- 
ployment Service,  Aug.  8,  1919.] 

The  War  and  Navy  Departments'  citation  has  been  issued  to  357 
firms  in  Kansas,  these  emploj^ers  having  assured  the  War  and  Navy 
Departments  that  they  Avill  reemploy  everybody  who  formerly 
worked  with  them  and  left  to  serve  in  the  Army  and  Navy  during 
the  World  War. — [Memorandum  from  assistant  to  the  Secretary  of 
War  in  the  replacement  of  service  men  to  civil  life,  to  U.  S.  Council 
of  National  Defense,  Nov.  20,  1919.] 

English  Language  in  Schools. 

The  legislature  passed  a  bill  prohibiting  the  use  of  any  but  the 
English  language  in  the  common  schools  of  the  State.  The  provi- 
sions of  this  bill  apply  to  all  public,  parochial,  and  private  schools. — 
[Laws  of  Kansas,  1919,  ch.  272.] 

Highways. 

A  resolution,  approved  April  7,  provides  for  submission  to 
the  electors  at  the  general  election  in  1920  of  a  proposition  to  amend 
the  constitution  so  as  to  authorize  the  carrying  on  of  internal  im- 
proA'ements  concerning  the  construction  of  roads  and  highways. 
Such  State  aid  granted  in  any  county  is  not  to  be  for  more  than 
25  per  cent  of  the  cost  of  such  roads  and  highways,  nor  for  more 
than  $10,000  per  mile,  nor  for  more  than  100  miles  in  any  one 
county. — [Laws  of  Kansas,  1919,  ch.  331.]  , 

On  October  1,  1919,  31  highway  projects  had  been  approved  by  the 
State,  involving  the  improvement  of  397.63  miles  of  road  at  a  total 
estimated  cost  of  $12,681,250.21,  of  which  the  Federal  Government  is 
requested  to  pay  $3,129,201.36  in  accordance  with  the  provisions 
of  the  Federal-aid  road  act  of  July  11,  1916,  as  amended  by  the  act 
of  February  28,  1919, — [Statement  prepared  by  Bureau  of  Public 
Eoads,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture.] 

Housing  Accommodations. 

The  business  men  of  Wellington  have  formed  the  Wellington 
Home  Foundation  "to  encourage  habits  of  saving;  to  obtain  more 
home  owners;  to  give  employment  to  Wellington  workmen;  and  to 
improve  the  appearance  of  the  city."  This  organization  plans  to 
improve  dilapidated  property  as  the  speediest  means  of  relieving  the 
shortage  of  houses. — [Housing  Bettermentj  New  York,  N.  Y.,  June. 
1919.] 


104       UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

Information  Service  for  Returned  Service  Men. 

The  local  branches  of  the  American  Red  Cross  are  cooperating 
Avith  other  organizations  in  establishing  contacts  with  service  men 
for  the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  adjustment  of  their  allotments, 
allowance  accounts,  compensation  and  claims,  and  the  reinstatement 
of  lapsed  or  canceled  insurance.  It  is  the  desire  of  the  Bureau  of 
War  Risk  Insurance  that  all  inquiries  of  this  nature  be  cleared 
through  the  home-service  sections  of  the  American  Red  Cross.  Up 
to  April  1,  1919,  the  American  Red  Cross  had  organized  in  Kansas 
314  units  with  a  total  of  330  workers. — [Statement  prepared  by 
American  National  Red  Cross  for  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
November,  1919.] 
Land  Reclamation. 

A  division  of  irrigation  was  created  in  the  State  department  of 
agriculture  by  an  act  of  the  legislature  of  1919.  The  duties  of  the 
commission  of  irrigation  are  to  investigate  methods  of  carrying  on 
such  work  and  the  feasibility  of  the  erecton  of  new  plants,  etc.,  and 
to  operate  irrigation  projects  owned  or  controlled  by  the  State. — • 
[Laws  of  Kansas,  1919,  ch.  218.] 
Land  Settlement. 

The  governor,  in  his  inaugural  address,  expressed  himself  in  favor 
of  the  soldier  land-settlement  plan  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Interior. — 
[Beacon,Wichita,  Kans.,  Jan.  13,  1919.] 

A  proposed  amendment  to  the  constitution  was  submitted  by  the 
legislature  to  the  people,  to  be  acted  upon  at  the  election  of  1920. 
This  would  permit  of  provision  for  a  State  fund  to  be  used  in  the 
purchase,  improvement,  and  i?ale  of  lands  for  agricultural  purposes. 
The  legislature  may,  if  the  amendment  is  adopted,  provide  reason- 
able preference  for  persons  honorably  discharged  from  the  Army 
and  Navy. — [Laws  of  Kansas,  1919,  ch.  321.] 
Loans  to  Service  Men. 

The  State  organization  of  the  Daughters  of  the  American  Revolu- 
tion is  planning  to  establish  a  loan  fund  of  $5,000  for  discharged 
disabled   soldiers   from  Iowa,   Kansas,   Missouri,   and  Nebraska. — 
[Journal,  Topeka,  Kans.,  Feb.  15,  1919.] 
Preference  to  Returned  Service  Men  in  Public  Employment. 

An  act  was  passed  by  the  legislature  providing  that  preference 
be  given  returned  soldiers  and  sailors  in  filling  positions  in  every 
public  department  and  upon  all  public  works  of  the  State,  counties, 
cities,  and  towns.  The  bill  carried  an  amendment  providing  that 
it  should  not  apply  to  conscientious  objectors. — [Laws  of  Kansas, 
1919,  ch.  280.] 
Public  Works. 

Reports  received  in  January,  1919,  cover  100  public  building  and 
construction  projects  which  were  under  way  or  contemplated  in  the 


KENTUCKY.  105 

State,  aggregating  an  estimated  value  of  $27,340,000.  Of  this  num- 
ber 49  were  street  improvements,  estimated  to  cost  $23,815,000;  9 
were  schools,  estimated  to  cost  $820,000;  and  12  were  Avaterworks, 
estimated  to  cost  $650,000. — [Statistics  compiled  by  Division  of 
Public  Works  and  Construction  Developments,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor, 
Apr.  17,  1919.] 

Registration  of  Discharge  Papers. 

An  act  was  approved  March  14  providing  for  the  filing  of  dis- 
charges and  other  official  records  of  military  service  in  the  Army  and 
Navy  of  the  United  States,  or  certified  copies  of  the  same.  No  charge 
is  permitted  to  be  made  by  city,  county,  or  State  officials  for  certify- 
ing to  the  correctness  of  copies  of  such  papers. — [.Laws  of  Kansas, 
1919,  ch.  281.] 

School  Gardens. 

School  gardens  are  being  conducted  in  69  cities  and  towns,  tho 
total  present  enrollment  in  the  State  being  33,363.  In  Kansas  City 
during  the  season  of  1919  there  were  3,350  children  enrolled. — [Pre- 
pared from  material  furnished  by  U.  S.  School  Garden  Army  to 
U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Nov.  1,  1919.] 

Vocational  Reeducation  of  Disabled  Service  Men. 

In  accordance  with  section  2  of  the  Federal  vocational  rehabilita- 
tion act  of  June  27,  1918,  as  amended  July  11,  1919,  arrangements 
had  been  made  up  to  October  25,  1919,  by  the  Federal  Board  for 
Vocational  Education  with  21  educational  institutions  in  the  State 
for  the  reeducation  of  service  men  to  overcome  the  handicap  of  dis- 
abilities incurred  in  the  service.  A  total  of  182  such  men  have  been 
sent  to  these  institutions  for  training.  Arrangements  have  also 
been  made  by  this  board  with  an  industrial  establishment  in  the 
State  whereby  the  latter  has  undertaken  to  train  a  disabled  man. — ■ 
[Compiled  from  statement  prepared  by  Rehabilitation  Division, 
Federal  Board  for  Vocational  Education.] 

Welfare  of  Returned  Service  Men. 

An  act,  approved  March  20,  appropriates  $35,000  and  pro- 
vides for  a  committee  to  look  after  the  reception  at  the  point  of  de- 
barkation or  demobilization  and  to  provide  for  the  comfort  and  en- 
tertainment of  Kansas  soldiers  returning  from  overseas  service. — • 
[Laws  of  Kansas,  1919,  ch.  282.] 

KENTUCKY. 

Americanization. 

The  Americanization  committee  of  the  State  division  of  the 
Woman's  Committee,  United  States  Council  of  National  Defense, 
is  planning  to  give  to  Louisville  an  American  house,  such  as  that 
in  Cincinnati,  where  the  twenty-five  or  thirty  thousand  men,  women, 


106        UNITED  STATKS  READ.TUSTMENT   AND  PvECONSTRUCTION. 

and  children  of  foreign  birth  or  parentage  living  in  Lonisville  may 
find  every  facility  for  recreation  and  for  social  and  mental  develop- 
ment.— [Courier-Journal,  Louisville,  Ky.,  Apr.  20,  1919.] 

As  there  are  few  foreigners  in  the  State  the  strength  of  the  State 
division  of  the  Woman's  Committee,  United  States  Council  of  Na- 
tional Defense,  was  put  into  more  immediate  needs  during  the  period 
of  the  war.  During  that  time  the  work  consisted  of  the  teaching 
of  some  classes  in  the  city  of  Louisville,  the  distribution  of  Ameri- 
canization literature  from  time  to  time,  and  the  embodying  of  the 
subject  of  Americanization  in  the  talks  of  the  speakers  sent  into 
the  State  by  the  Woman's  Committee.  As  a  reconstruction  work, 
Americanization  is  being  considered  very  seriously.  The  chair- 
man of  the  Americanization  committee  was  sent  to  the 
Americanization  institute,  Avhich  was  held  in  Chicago  in  February, 
and  as  a  result  has  given  talks  on  the  subject  before  several  women's 
organizations.  The  majority  of  the  foreigners  in  Kentucky  are 
situated  in  the  different  mining  districts  and  in  Covington,  Louis- 
ville, and  Newport.  City ,  agencies  are  working  with  them  in  these 
three  cities,  and  the  plan  of  Americanization  work  for  the  foreigners 
in  the  mines  is  to  hold  a  conference  of  mine  owners  in  the  city  of 
Louisville  this  spring;  to  have  them  attend  at  their  own  expense; 
and  to  have  as  speakers  at  the  conference  experts  on  the  subjects 
of  Americanization,  community  centers,  rural  sanitation,  health  and 
hygiene,  boy  scouts,  etc.  As  the  result  of  this  information  the 
mine  owners  will  be  stimulated  to  make  their  mining  districts  so 
attractive  that  the  best  class  of  workmen  will  be  attracted  to  and 
held  in  the  vicinity.  An  Americanization  pageant  has  been  intro- 
duced in  the  State  through  the  Americanization  organization  of 
women,  and  arrangements  are  being  made  for  producing  it  in  several 
counties  of  the  State. — [Letter  from  State  council  of  defense  to 
U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  May  13,  1919.] 

The  supervisor  of  the  night  school  at  Newport  writes  of  a  suc- 
cessful school  term,  but  adds  that  there  are  others  among  the  foreign 
born  who  ought  to  be  reached,  and  that  she  hopes  to  secure  their  at- 
tendance through  the  excellent  reputation  the  school  has  acquired. — 
[Compiled  from  forthcoming  report  of  director  of  citizenship  to 
Commissioner  of  Naturalization,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor,  1920.] 

Assistance  for  Service  Men. 

The  State  legislature  has  not  been  in  session  since  the  close  of 
the  war,  and  no  legislative  provision  has,  therefore,  been  made  for 
returning  soldiers  and  sailors.  Legal  aid  to  returning  soldiers, 
however,  is  provided  by  the  State  council  of  defense. — [Letter  from 
chairman.  State  council  of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National 
Defense,  Mar.  24,  1919.] 


KENTUCKY.  107 

"  Back-to-School "  Drive. 

The  "  Back-to-school "  drive  was  carried  on  by  sending  liter- 
ature to  county  chairmen;  by  placing  posters  in  public  buildings; 
printing  and  distributing  slips  advocating  "  Stay-in-school "  to 
bureaus  issuing  working  permits.  The  commissioner  of  child  labor 
reports  a  falling  off  of  children  emploj^ed  in  factories.  The  demands 
of  the  small  farms,  how^ever,  continue  to  keep  the  child  in  its  teens 
out  of  school. — [Report  of  child  conservation  section  of  the  Field 
Division  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Oct.  1,  1918,  to  July  1, 
1919.] 
Building  Activity. 

Louisville  is  in  process  of  developing  a  plan  for  arousing  public 
interest  in  bringing  about  more  building  activity  through  a  cam- 
paign of  newspaper  advertising  and  other  forms  of  publicity.  The 
plan  was  started  by  calling  a  sort  of  mass  meeting  of  various 
building  material  and  supply  men  who  would  be  benefited  by  greater 
building  activity.  A  committee  was  appointed  to  outline  plans  for 
a  campaign  of  advertising  and  to  promote  a  more  active  interest  in 
building  and  was  given  authority  to  act,  to  raise  funds,  and  to  carry 
out  the  plans  which  w^ere  made.  Representatives  of  about  15  different 
trade  interests  were  appointed  on  this  committee.  The  campaign  is 
to  arouse  public  interest  in  building,  not  by  or  for  or  under  the  name 
of  individual  firms,  but  a  broad  general  campaign  under  the  aus- 
pices of  the  builders'  exchange  and  allied  interests. — [Clay- Worker, 
Indianapolis,  Ind.,  Mar.  28,  1919.] 
"  Buy-Now  "  Campaign. 

The  State  council  of  defense  has  taken  up  with  the  Louisville  Ad- 
vertising Club  the  "  Buy-now  "  campaign,  and  that  club  has  under- 
taken to  interest  merchants  in  giving  publicity  to  the  signed  state- 
ment issued  by  the  United  States  Council  of  National  Defense  on 
this  subject. — [Report  of  State  council  of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council 
of  National  Defense,  Mar.  10,  1919.] 

Community  Councils. 

The  State  council  of  defense  is  seeking  to  keep  alive  the  spirit  of 
public  service  in  the  members  of  its  county  and  community  councils 
and  to  encourage  them  to  cooperate  with  permanent  organizations 
which  have  for  their  object  the  development  of  their  several  com- 
munities. To  that  end  the  State  council  is  doing  what  it  can  to 
promote  the  w^ork  of  the  State  development  committee,  which  seeks 
the  agricultural  and  educational  development  of  the  State  through 
talks  by  agi-icultural,  educational,  and  health  experts  at  community 
meetings  in  different  parts  of  the  State. — [Letter  from  chairman, 
State  council  of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
May  13,  1919.] 


108        UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  EECONSTRUCTIOIT. 

Council  of  Defense. 

Under  an  act  of  the  legislature  the  State  council  of  defense  must 
stay  in  existence  until  the  next  session,  January,  1920.  In  so  far  as 
the  general  scope  of  this  work  is  concerned  the  council  has  decided 
to  bring  all  matters  of  a  general  nature  to  a  close  on  or  before  March 
15,  1919.  The  historical  part  of  the  council's  work  and  a  general 
office  for  correspondence  will  be  maintained. — [Letter  from  secre- 
tary, State  council  of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
Dec.  9,  1918.] 

The  State  council  of  defense  is  subject  to  call.  It  has  retained 
the  county  council  system  intact  on  paper.  The  matter  of  a  perma- 
nent establishment  of  community  councils  has  been  considered  and 
discussed,  but  no  formal  action  has  been  taken  except  that  a  State 
conference  in  March  had  "community  organization"  for  its  key- 
note. The  council  has  transferred  no  activities  to  permanent  agen- 
cies, but  is  continuing  employment  bureaus  for  soldiers,  legal  aid, 
and  the  apprehension  of  deserters.  The  main  work  of  the  council 
since  the  armistice  has  been  the  compilation  of  historical  records  of 
Kentucky  soldiers  done  under  a  paid  chairman,  with  a  subchairman 
in  each  county  but  one. — [Reply  from  State  council  of  defense  to 
questionnaire  of  the  Field  Division,  U.  S.  Council  of  National  De- 
fense, June  25,  1919.] 

Employment. 

A  careful  survey  of  the  industries  of  the  State  is  being  conducted 
by  the  Kentucky  Manufacturers'  Association  for  the  purpose  of  as- 
similating wounded  soldiers  into  the  industrial  life  of  the  State. 
Placing  the  disabled  soldiers  is  officially  in  the  hands  of  the  Federal 
Board  for  Vocational  Education,  which  cooperates  with  the  United 
States  Employment  Service. — [Herald,  Louisville,  Ky.,  Dec.  9, 1918.] 

On  account  of  the  curtailment  of  the  work  of  the  United  States 
Employment  Service,  the  State  council  of  defense  and  county  coun- 
cils are  taking  up  the  question  of  employment  for  returning  service 
men. — [Letter  from  State  council  of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of 
National  Defense,  Mar.  IT,  1919.] 

Bureaus  for  finding  employment  for  returning  soldiers  and  sailors 
have  been  established  by  the  county  councils  of  defense  under  the 
direction  of  the  State  council  in  43  counties. — [Letter  from  chair- 
man. State  council  of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
Mar.  24,  1919.] 

Employment  offices  maintained  in  Kentucky  by  the  Federal  Gov- 
ernment in  cooperation  with  State  and  local  organizations  report 
that  during  the  six  months'  period  from  January  1  to  June  30, 
1919,  40,248  persons  were  registered  who  were  seeking  employ- 
ment; 46,927  requests  for  employees  were  received;  and  27,461  per- 


KENTUCKY.  109 

sons  were  placed  by  these  offices. — [Compiled  from  statistics  lur- 
nished  by  U.  S.  Employment  Service,  Aug.  8,  1919.] 

The  War  and  Navy  Departments'  citation  has  been  issued  to 
709  firms  in  Kentucky,  these  employers  having  assured  the  War 
and  Navy  Departments  that  they  will  reemploy  everybody  who 
formerly  worked  with  them  and  left  to  serve  in  the  Army  or  Navy 
during  the  World  War. — [Memorandum  from  assistant  to  the  Sec- 
retary of  War  in  the  replacement  of  service  men  to  civil  life,  to 
U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Nov.  20,  1919.] 

At  a  meeting  of  representatives  of  31  civic^ commercial,  and  in- 
dustrial organizations  of  Louisville,  called  for  the  purpose  of  con- 
sidering the  subject  of  employment  for  soldiers,  an  executive  com- 
mittee of  five  was  selected  to  perfect  the  organization.  The  execu- 
tive committee  selected  an  executive  secretary,  and  the  work  of 
finding  employment  has  gone  on  splendidly.  Because  of  the  cur- 
tailment of  the  work  of  the  United  States  Employment  Service,  ar- 
rangements were  made  to  continue  this  employment  service  by 
private  subscription.  The  work  will  be  handled  through  the  same 
executive  committee.  Only  a  small  percentage  of  Louisville  soldiers 
and  sailors  who  have  returned  are  without  employment.  This  small 
percentage  represents  mostly  men  who  are  trained  in  some  particular 
line  of  work  and  who  are  unwilling  to  accept  work  of  another  char- 
acter. These  men  will  be  fitted  into  positions  just  as  soon  as  such 
places  are  available. — [Letter  from  mayor  of  Louisville  to  U.  S. 
Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  24,  1919.] 

Highways. 

The  State  council  of  defense  is  investigating  the  needs  for  public 
improvements  in  Kentucky  and  will  urge  upon  the  State,  county, 
and  municipal  authorities  the  importance  of  opening  up  such  im- 
provements at  once  in  order  that  the  State  may  take  care  of  the 
reemployment  of  its  quota  of  discharged  soldiers,  sailors,  and  war 
workers  released  from  war  industries.  The  State  auditor  reports 
that  Kentucky  annually  does  about  $800,000  in  road  work,  and  the 
county  expenditure  for  roads  is  approximately  the  same  amount. 
Little  new  work  is  now  under  way,  but  it  is  said  to  be  probable 
that  the  matter  will  be  taken  under  consideration  immediately. — 
[Courier-Journal,  Louisville,  Ky.,  Dec.  23,  1918.] 

The  State  highway  department  is  advocating  that  the  next  legis- 
lature designate  a  State  highway  system  to  be  composed  of  the 
intercounty  seat  roads  of  the  State,  such  roads  to  be  built  and  main- 
tained by  the  State  and  Federal  Governments. — [Bulletin  No.  46, 
Highways  Transport  Committee,  U.  S.  Council  of  National  De- 
fense.] 

On  October  1, 1919, 16  highway  projects  had  been  approved  by  the 
State,  involving  the  improvement  of  128.79  miles  of  road  at  a  total 


110        UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

estimated  cost  of  $1,47-1,723.70,  of  which  the  Federal  Government  is 
requested  to  pay  $711,027.87  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the 
Federal-aid  road  act  of  July  11,  191G,  as  amended  by  tho  act  of 
February  28,  1919. — [Statement  prepared  by  Bureau  of  Public 
Roads,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture.] 
Housing  Accommodations. 

The  housing  problem  of  Lexington,  which  has  grown  acute  since 
the  influx  of  numbers  of  new  industries  has  been  solved,  in  part,  by 
the  organization  of  a  stock  company  with  a  capital  of  $50,000,  the 
purpose  of  which  is  to  erect  a  number  of  low-priced  houses  in  the 
shortest  possible  time. — [Housing  Betterment,  New  York,  N.  Y., 
June,  1919.] 

Information  Service  for  Returned  Service  Men. 

The  local  branches  of  the  American  Red  Cross  are  cooperating 
with  other  organizations  in  establishing  contacts  with  service  men 
for  the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  adjustment  of  their  allotments, 
allowance  accounts,  compensation  and  claims,  and  tlie  reinstatement 
of  lapsed  or  canceled  insurance.  It  is  the  desire  of  the  Bureau  of 
War  Risk  Insurance  that  all  inquiries  of  this  nature  be  cleared 
through  the  home-service  sections  of  the  American  Red  Cross.  Up 
to  April  1, 1919,  the  American  Red  Cross  had  organized  in  Kentucky 
517  units  with  a  total  of  778  workers. — [Statement  prepared  by 
American  National  Red  Cross  for  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
November,  1919.] 
Land  Settlement. 

A  soldier  land-settlement  committee  of  six  members  has  been  ap- 
pointed by  the  governor  to  cooperate  with  the  United  States  Depart- 
ment of  the  Interior  in  providing  lands  for  soldiers. — [Letter  from 
chairman.  State  council  of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  De- 
fense, Mar.  24,  1919.] 

Public  Works. 

Reports  received  in  January,  1919,  cover  53  public  building  and 
construction  projects  which  were  under  way  or  contemplated  in  the 
State,  aggregating  an  estimated  value  of  $7,190,000.  Of  this  number 
29  were  street  improvements,  estimated  to  cost  $2,500,000 ;  and  1 
bridge,  estimated  to  cost  $2,500,000. — [Statistics  compiled  by 
Division  of  Public  Works  and  Construction  Developments,  U.  8. 
Dept.  of  Labor,  Apr.  17,  1919.] 

Reconstruction  Conference. 

The  State  council  of  defense  has  called  a  State  conference  on 
March  1  and  5,  1919,  to  be  held  at  the  L^niversity  of  Kentucky,  for 
the  discussion  and  consideration  of  the  problems  arising  out  of  the 
war.  The  program  includes  speeches  on  general  and  educational 
])roblems  and  community  organization. — [Press  bulletin  of  State 
council  of  defense.  Mar.  1,  1919.] 


I^OUISIAK^A.  Ill 

School  Gardens. 

School  gardens  are  being  conducted  ^n  40  cities  and  towns,  the 
total  present  enrollment  in  the  State  being  32,462,  In  Lexington 
during  the  season  of  1919  8,000  children  were  enrolled. — [Pre- 
pared from  material  furnished  by  U.  S.  School  Garden  Army  to 
U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense^,  Nov.  1.  1919.] . 

Vocational  Reeducation  of  Disabled  Service  Men. 

In  accordance  with  section  2  of  the  Federal  vocational  rehabilita- 
tion act  of  June  27,  1918,  as  amended  July  11,  1919,  arrangements 
had  been  made  up  to  October  25,  1919,  by  the  Federal  Board  for 
Vocational  Education  with  11  educational  institutions  in  the  State 
for  the  reeducation  of  service  men  to  overcome  the  handicap  of  dis- 
abilities incurred  in  the  service.  A  total  of  93  such  men  have  been 
sent  to  these  institutions  for  training.  Arrangements  have  also  been 
made  by  this  board  with  eight  industrial  establishments  in  the  State 
whereby  the  latter  have  undertaken  to  train  eight  disabled  men. — 
[Compiled  from  statement  prepared  by  Eehabilitation  Division, 
Federal  Eoard  for  A'ocational  Education.] 

Woman's  Committee. 

The  State  division  of  the  Woman's  Conmiittee,  United  States 
Council  of  National  Defense,  has  adopted  the  policy  of  turning  over 
to  permanent  organizations  the  lines  of  ^vork  carried  on  under  war 
conditions.  The  chairman  of  the  committee  on  women-in-industry 
is  also  the  chairman  of  the  State  consumers'  league,  and  has  ap- 
pointed her  county  unit  chairman,  vice  chairma,n  of  the  consiuuers' 
league,  thereby  extending  the  permanent  work  of  that  national  body 
through  the  State.  The  interest  in  child  welfare  excited  by  the  ob- 
servance of  "  Children's  Year  "  will  be  carried  on  by  the  child  labor 
association  and  the  parent-teacher  association.  The  work  of  the 
State  food  administration  has  closed,  but  the  organization  effected 
by  its  chairman  is  to  be  used  in  promoting  education  and  American- 
ization. The  interest  in  public-health  nursing  created  by  the  drive 
for  pupil  nurses,  has  been  turned  over  to  the  State  federation  of 
women's  clubs.  The  chairman  of  the  education  department  has 
planned  to  cooperate  with  the  State  development  committee,  which 
is  to  hold  60  community  improvement  meetings  throughout  the 
State  this  summer.  The  education  organization  in  the  State  to- 
gether with,  the  parent-teacher  association  will  be  used  in  the  in- 
terests of  the  work  of  the  child — [Letter  from  chairman,  State  coun- 
cil of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  May  13,  1919.] 

LOUISIANA. 

Americanization. 

The  State  council  of  defense  believes  the  question  of  Americaniza- 
tion is  one  of  the  most  important  during  the  period  of  readjustment. 


112       UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

Night  schools  have  already  been  established  in  New  Orleans,  and  a 
number  of  successful  meetings  have  been  held  in  the  foreign  colonies 
of  Plaquemines,  St.  Bernard,  and  Tangipahoa  Parishes. — [News  re- 
lease of  State  council  of  defense,  Jan.  23,  1919.] 

The  State  division  of  the  Woman's  Committee,  United  States  Coun- 
cil of  National  Defense,  has  cooperated  with  the  school  authorities, 
who  agree  to  open  night  schools  or  afternoon  schools  when  the  at- 
tendence  will  justify  paying  teachers.  The  course  will  be  free  to  the 
students.  It  is  planned  to  have  leaflets  printed  and  given  to  school 
children  to  be  filled  out,  by  which  means  the  number  of  parents  who 
do  not  speak  English  will  be  determined.  These  names  will  be  turned 
over  to  the  committee  in  the  federated  clubs,  and  it  is  hoped  that  the 
parents  can  be  persuaded  to  attend  school.  If  the  State  council  of 
defense  is  discontinued,  the  State  federation  of  women's  clubs  will 
take  up  the  Americanization  movement  in  a  large  way. — [Letter 
from  State  division  of  the  Woman's  Committee  to  U.  S.  Council  of 
National  Defense,  Feb.  5,  1919.] 

Americanization  work  has  been  taken  up  actively  throughout  the 
State  and  is  being  financed  by  the  State  council  of  defense.  The 
work  is  under  the  direct  supervision  of  the  chairman  of  the  Ameri- 
canization committee  of  the  State  council  of  defense,  who  is  also  the 
head  of  the  State  department  of  immigration.  The  naturalization 
examiner  is  also  cooperating.  A  field  agent  has  been  employed,  and 
under  his  direction  vacation  schools  are  being  established  throughout 
the  State  for  adult  aliens.  This  work  is  comparatively  recent,  but 
far-reaching  results  are  expected. — [Letter  from  secretary.  State 
council  of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  May  16, 
1919.] 

The  examiner  of  the  bureau  of  naturalization  at  New  Orleans 
writes : ''  We  have  found  new  colonies  in  this  State,  among  which  are 
Slavonians  and  Hungarians  in  parishes  where  heretofore  our  activi- 
ties have  not  reached.  We  will  lose  no  time  in  amalgamating  them 
into  our  educational  system  for  foreign  born." — [Compiled  from 
forthcoming  report  of  director  of  citizenship  to  Commissioner  of 
Naturalization,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor,  1920.] 
Cotton  Acreage  Reduction. 

A  plan  to  reduce  cotton  acreage  has  been  formulated  and  followed 
up  by  the  governor,  who  is  chairman  of  the  State  council  of  defense. 
Pledges  for  a  reduction  of  one-third  in  the  cotton  acreage  of  the 
State  have  been  secured  through  the  parish  and  community  councils 
of  defense. — [Letter  from  secretary.  State  council  of  defense  to  U.  S. 
Council  of  National  Defense,  May  16,  1919.] 

Council  of  Defense. 

The  State  council  of  defense  is  still  intact.  About  75  per  cent  of 
the  parish  councils  remain.     The  work  ceases  automatically  with 


LOUISIANA.  113 

signing  of  the  peace  treaty  by  this  country.  An  endeavor  will  be 
made  to  have  parish  schools  take  over  Americanization  work.  The 
council  is  cooperating  with  the  Federal  employment  service  in  secur- 
ing jobs  for  service  men,  and  the  legal  committees  are  still  intact  to 
give  free  aid  to  men  in  service  and  in  apprehending  deserters.  Field 
agents  in  Americanization  have  been  employed,  and  a  number  of 
schools  established  for  adult  aliens.  The  work  was  financed  by  the 
State  council  where  it  could  not  be  cared  for  locally. — [Reply  from 
State  council  of  defense  to  questionnaire  of  the  Field  Division,  IJ.  S. 
Council  of  National  Defense,  June  25,  1919.] 
EiKployment. 

The  mayors  of  parishes  and  associations  of  commerce  have  united 
with  the  community  labor  boards  for  the  purpose  of  choosing  a  man- 
agement committee  and  bureau  managers,  who  will  become  agents  of 
the  United  States  Employment  Service.  A  bureau  is  to  be  estab- 
lished in  each  city  and  large  town.  Such  bureaus  are  to  be  operated 
for  the  benefit  of  soldiers  and  sailors  and  in  order  to  prevent  unem- 
ployment in  the  face  of  the  high  cost  of  living. — [Letter  from  secre- 
tary. State  council  of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
Dec.  5,  1918.] 

The  governor  has  called  upon  all  parishes,  community  councils, 
mayors,  municipal  councils,  and  public  and  civic  organizations 
throughout  the  State  to  aid  soldiers  and  sailors  in  every  way  possible 
to  find  employment. — [Telegram  from  the  governor  to  U.  S.  Council 
of  National  Defense,  Mar.  17,  1919.] 

Employment  offices  maintained  in  Louisiana  by  the  Federal  Gov- 
ernment in  cooperation  with  State  and  local  organizations  report 
that  during  the  six  months'  period  from  January  1  to  June  30,  1919, 
18,170  persons  were  registered  who  were  seeking  employment;  28,193 
requests  for  employees  Avere  received;  and  11,386  persons  were 
placed  by  these  offices. — [Compiled  from  statistics  furnished  by  U.  S. 
Employment  Service,  Aug.  8,  1919.] 

The  War  and  Navy  Departments'  citation  has  been  issued  to  406 
firms  in  Louisiana,  these  employers  having  assured  the  War  and 
Navy  Departments  that  they  will  reemploy  everybody  who  formerly 
worked  with  them  and  left  to  serve  in  the  Army  and  Navy  during 
the  World  War. — [Memorandum  from  assistant  to  the  Secretary  of 
War  in  the  replacement  of  service  men  to  civil  life,  to  U.  S.  Council 
of  National  Defense,  Nov.  20,  1919.] 

The  chairman  of  the  executive  committee  of  the  board  of  man- 
agement of  the  New  Orleans  Association  of  Commerce  bureau  for 
returning  soldiers  and  sailors  has  announced  that  one  of  the  latest 
plans  to  help  returning  soldiers  get  their  old  jobs  back  is  through  a 
mediation  committee.  The  committee  acts  in  a  confidential  way  be- 
134286°— 20 8 


114        UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

twcen  the  soldier  and  his  former  employeiv  and  when  the  soldier 
returns  and  applies  for  his  old  job  this  committee  will  take  the  mat- 
ter up  at  once  with  his  employer  and  urge  liim  to  put  the  man  to 
work  as  quickly  as  possible. — [Times-Picayune,  New  Orleans^  La.^ 
Mar.  24,  1919.] 

An  employment  bureau  for  soldiers  and  sailors  under  the  auspices 
of  the  association  of  commerce,  the  municipal  government,  the 
united  war-work  service,  and  the  United  States  Employment  Serv- 
ice will  be  opened  in  New  Orleans. — [Item,  New  Orleans,  La.,  Feb. 
16,  1919.] 

The  mayor  of  New  Orleans  has  arranged  to  transfer  the  question 
of  financing  the  local  employment  bureau  to  the  New  Orleans  Asso- 
ciation of  Commerce. — [Telegram  from  mayor  of  New  Orleans  to 
U.  S.  Council  'of  National  Defense,  Mar.  15, 1919.] 

Due  to  the  failure  of  Congress  to  appropriate  additional  funds  for 
carrying  on  this  work,  the  number  of  employment  bureaus  in 
Louisiana  has  been  reduced  from  740  to  56.  A  circular  letter  has 
been  addressed  to  the  members  of  the  rotary  clubs  for  contributions 
toward  the  purchase  of  films  to  be  used  in  the  theaters  of  New 
Orleans,  to  aid  in  obtaining  jobs  for  discharged  fighters. — [States, 
New  Orleans,  La.,  Mar.  19,  1919.] 

Highways. 

The  assistant  highway  engineer  of  the  State  advises  that  Louisiana 
to  date  has  issued  no  bonds  for  road  construction,  but  that  all  State 
funds  are  derived  from  a  J-mill  tax  which  produces  about  $140,000 
annually.  Ke  states,  however,  that  most  of  the  parishes  of  the  State 
have  floated  bond  issues  for  various  amounts;  and,  in  cases  where 
various  parishes  have  applied  for  State  aid,  the  State  appropriation 
is  merged  with  the  respective  bond  issue,  and  the  resulting  construc- 
tion is  carried  on  under  the  supervision  of  the  State  highway  engi- 
neer.— [Bulletin  No.  46,  Highways  Transport  Committee,  U.  S. 
Council  of  National  Defense.] 

On  October  1,  1919,  29  highway  projects  had  been  approved  in  the 
State,  involving  the  improvement  of  300.89  miles  of  road  at  a  total 
estimated  cost  of  $2,607,2^7.59,  of  which  the  Federal  Government  is 
requested  to  pay  $1,199,661.92  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of 
the  Federal-aid  road  act  of  July  11,  1916,  as  amended  by  the  act  of 
February  28,  1919. — [Statement  prepared  by  Bureau  of  Public 
Ivoads,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture.] 

The  State  highway  department  is  issuing  contracts  for  the  con- 
struction of  improved  highways  which  will  total  more  than  $10,000,- 
000  for  this  year.  Plans  have  been  drawn  up  that  when  completed 
Avill  cover  the  State  with  a  network  of  roads. — [Christian  Science 
Monitor,  Boston,  Mass.,  July  31,  1919.] 


LOUISIANA.  115 

Information  Service  for  Eeturned  Service  Men. 

The  local  branches  of  the  American  Red  Cross  are  cooperating 
with  other  organizations  in  establishing  contacts  with  service  men 
for  the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  adjustment  of  their  allotments, 
allowance  accounts,  compensation  and  claims,  and  the  reinstatement 
of  lapsed  or  canceled  insurance.  It  is  the  desire  of  the  Bureau  of 
War  Risk  Insurance  that  all  inquiries  of  this  nature  be  cleared 
through  the  home-service  sections  of  the  American  Red  Cross.  U]) 
to  April  1,  1919,  the  American  Red  Cross  had  organized  in  Louisiana 
162  units  with  a  total  of  202  workers. — [Statement  prepared  by 
American  National  Red  Cross  for  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
November,  1919.] 
Land  Settlement. 

Following  a  conference  of  men  interested  in  the  soldier  farm- 
settlement  movement  at  New  Orleans,  the  governor  has  announced 
that  he  will  appoint  a  committee  of  five. citizens  to  represent  the 
State  in  negotiations  with  the  Federal  Government  for  the  selection 
of  tracts  of  land  available  for  i^roviding  farm  homes  for  soldiers, 
sailors,  and  marines.  The  governor,  in  his  talk  before  the  confer- 
ence, indorsed  the  bill  pending  in  Congress  appropriating  $100,- 
000,000  for  furnishing  farm  homes  to  soldiers  on  long  terms  of 
payment,  and  declared  that  if  some  of  the  projects  were  located  in 
Louisiana  it  would  mark  an  era  of  progress  in  the  agricultural  de-. 
velopment  of  the  State. — [Times-Picayune,  New  Orleans,  La.,  Jan. 
21,  1919.] 

The  go.ernor  has  appointed  a  committee  of  five  to  represent  the 
State  with  reference  to  matters  pertaining  to  the  settlement  of 
soldiers  upon  land. — [Memorandum  from  Reclamation  Service,  U.  S. 
Dept.  of  the  Interior  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  July 
1,  1919.] 

Public  Works. 

The  State  council  of  defense  has  collected  data  from  40  parishes 
as  to  labor  conditions  and  found  the  following  situation:  Thirty 
parishes  have  funds  available  for  road  construction  and  school 
buildings,  and  the  majority  of  the  rest  are  considering  the  question 
of  bonds  or  taxes  for  road  building.  The  10  parishes  have  $7,332,500 
available  for  public  construction,  while  private  buildings  now  under 
way  show  a  total  of  $2,735,000.  Seventeen*  parishes  report  a 
shortage  of  labor,  especially  for  agricultural  purposes. — [News  re- 
lease of  State  council  of  defense,  Feb.  13,  1919.] 

The  dock  board  of  New  Orleans  is  authorizing  the  sale  of 
$8,000,000  in  bonds,  $6,000,000  to  be  expended  on  an  industrial  canal 
and  $2,000,000  in  building  a  coal  tipple  and  making  additions  to 
a  cotton  warehouse.  A  syndicate  of  bankers  has  agreed  to  loan  the 
money.— [States,  New  Orleans,  La.,  Feb.  27,  1919.] 


116        UNITED  STATES  KEADJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

Reports  received  in  January,  1919,  cover  63  public  building  and 
construction  projects  which  were  under  way  or  contemplated  in  the 
State,  aggregating  an  estimated  value  of  $33,450,000.  Of  this  num- 
ber 19  were  street  improvements,  estimated  to  cost  $4,800,000 ;  and  4 
were  waterfront  improvements,  estimated  to  cost  $20,000,000. — - 
[Statistics  compiled  by  Division  of  Public  Works  and  Construc- 
tion Developments,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor,  Apr.  17,  1919.] 

School  Gardens. 

School  gardens  are  being  conducted  in  85  cities  and  towns,  the 
total  present  enrollment  in  the  State  being  41,830  members.  In  New 
Orleans  during  the  season  of  1919  there  were  25,000  children  en- 
rolled.— [Prepared  from  material  furnished  by  U.  S.  School  Garden 
Army  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Nov.  1,  1919.] 

Vocational  Reeducation  of  Disabled  Service  Men. 

In  accordance  with  section  2  of  the  Federal  vocational  rehabilita- 
tion act  of  June  27,  1918,  as  amended  July  11,  1919,  arrangements 
had  been  made  up  to  October  25,  1919,  by  the  Federal  Board  for 
Vocational  Education  with  eight  educational  institutions  in  the 
State  for  the  reeducation  of  service  men  to  overcome  the  handicap 
of  disabilities  incurred  in  the  service.  A  total  of  253  such  men  have 
been  sent  to  these  institutions  for  training.  Arrangements  have  also 
been  made  by  this  board  with  18  industrial  establishments  in  the 
State  whereby  the  latter  have  undertaken  to  train  a  total  of  22  dis- 
abled men. — [Compiled  from  statement  prepared  by  Rehabilitation 
Division  of  the  Federal  Board  for  Vocational  Education.] 

Woman's  Committee. 

The  New  Orleans  division  of  the  Woman's  Committee,  United 
^States  Council  of  National  Defense,  held  its  last  meeting  on  April 
30  and  formally  went  out  of  existence.  The  work  of  this  organiza- 
tion has  been  so  efficiently  carried  on  that  the  association  of  commerce 
wishes  to  enlist  its  services  and  has  asked  that  the  members  become 
a  civic  bureau  of  the  New  Orleans  Association  of  Commerce.  All  of 
the  women  expressed  a  desire  to  keep  together  and  almost  the  com- 
plete organization  promised  to  cooperate  with  this  bureau. — [Times- 
Picayune,  New  Orleans,  La.,  May  11,  1919.] 

MAINE. 

Americanization. 

A  bill  introduced  in  the  State  legislature  provides  for  compulsory 
education  in  the  English  language  by  prohibiting  the  employing  of 
anyone  between  the  ages  of  18  and  45  years  who  can  not  speak,  read, 
and  w^rite  the  English  language  with  proficiency  equal  to  the  third 
grade  of  Maine  public-school  standards. — [Americanization,  U.  S. 
Dept.  of  the  Interior,  Mar.  1,  1919.] 


MAINE.  117 

The  twenty-ninth  article  of  the  constitution  of  the  State  requires 
that  all  persons  who  seek  to  become  citizens  of  the  State  shall  be 
able  to  read  the  State  constitution  in  the  English  language,  but  no 
provision  has  heretofore  been  made  for  such  persons  to  receive  the 
necessary  instruction  for  this  attainment  A  recent  law  provides 
that  in  towns  in  which  are  found  persons  who  are  unable  to  read  and 
write  in  the  English  language,  they  may  receive  instruction  in  the 
evening  schools,  and  such  towns  may  be  reimbursed  for  two-thirds 
of  the  cost  of  the  instruction.  This  provides  definite  means  for  the 
reduction  of  illiteracy  within  the  State  and  also  for  Americanization 
through  instruction  in  the  elements  of  citizenship  and  in  the  English 
language. — [Letter  from  superintendent  of  public  schools  of  Maine 
to  U.  S.  Commissioner  of  Education,  Apr.  9,  1919.] 
Assistance  for  Service  Men. 

An  act  of  1919  provides  for  the  support  of  dependents  of  soldiers, 
sailors,  and  marines  who  have  served  in  the  Army  and  Navy  forces 
of  the  United  States  or  of  the  State  since  April  1, 1917.  The  act  re- 
quires cities,  towns,  and  plantations  to  raise  money  by  taxation  or 
otherwise  to  relieve  the  "necessitous  circumstances"  of  dependents 
incapable  of  self-maintenance.  The  money  so  raised  is  paid  directly 
to  the  dependents,  or  to  the  parent  or  legal  guardian,  by  the  mu- 
nicipal officers  where  the  dependents  reside,  in  sums  not  exceeding 
$4  a  week  to  the  wife,  father,  or  mother  and  not  exceeding  $1  a 
week  to  each  child  under  16  or  other  dependent.  The  money  so 
raised  and  applied  will  be  reimbursed  by  the  State  to  each  munici- 
pality. Reimbursement  will  not  be  made  for  aid  rendered  de- 
pendents of  commissioned  officers  or  deserters.  No  pauper  disabili- 
ties are  created  by  receipt  of  aid  under  this  act.  A  ^-mill  tax  has 
been  levied  for  1919  and  1920  to  take  care  of  the  money  which  will  be 
paid  under  this  act.  In  1917  and  1918  three-quarters  of  a  million 
dollars  were  used  for  this  purpose. — [Public  Laws  of  Maine,  1919, 
ch.  169.] 

All  during  the  spring  and  summer  of  1919  the  War  Camp  Com- 
munity Service  cooperated  with  the  American  Red  Cross  and  em- 
ployment agencies  in  a  program  for  the  guidance  and  care  of  sol- 
diers and  sailors. — [Report  of  War  Camp  Community  Service  for 
U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Aug.,  1919.] 

Coal  at  Reduced  Prices. 

The  city  of  Portland,  through  its  municipal  fuel  yard,  hopes  to  be 
able  to  sell  stove  and  chestnut  coal  at  $10  a  ton.  The  municipal  shed 
will  be  open  for  the  delivery  of  coal  on  Friday  and  Saturday  of 
each  week,  selling  coal  for  cash  in  half-ton  and  ton  lots.  At  the 
beginning  it  is  thought  that  the  city  will  deal  only  in  stove  and  chest- 
nut sizes  and  will  put  in  an  order  asking  for  the  delivery  of  200 


118       UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

tons  each  month  during  the  spring  and  400  tons  each  month  during 
October  and  December. — [Christian  Science  Monitor,  Boston,  Mass., 
Apr.  24,  1919.] 

Committee  on  Public  Safety. 

All  the  activities  of  the  State  committee  on  public  safety  terminated 
December  1,  with  the  exception  of  the  four  minute  men  Avork.  No 
committee  replaces  the  committee  on  public  safety,  and  no  attempt 
was  made  to  transfer  the  work  to  other  agencies.  Federal  agencies 
have  entire  charge  of  the  employment  of  soldiers,  the  American 
Eed  Cross  gives  free  legal  aid,  and  the  cities  arc  attending  to  the 
apprehension  of  deserters. — [Iveply  from  State  committee  on  public 
safety  to  questionnaire  of  the  Field  Division,  U.  S.  Council  of  Na- 
tional Defense,  June  25,  1919.] 
Development  Plans. 

Development  in  the  State  industrially,  commercially,  and  agricul- 
turally is  to  have  wider  dissemination  through  cooperation  of  the  com- 
mercial traveling  men  who  have  joined  forces  with  the  wholesale 
trade  bureau  of  the  Portland  Chamber  of  Commerce  and  the  Maine 
Agricultural  and  Industrial  League. — [Christian  Science  Monitor, 
Boston,  Mass.,  May  20,  1919.] 

Employment. 

The  governor  has  made  provision  for  the  continuance  of  the  em- 
ployment service,  so  that  its  activities  will  not  be  curtailed  by  tho 
failure  of  the  Federal  Government  to  provide  adequate  financial  sup- 
port.— [Letter  from  governor's  secretary  to  U.  S.  Council  of  Na- 
tional Defense,  Mar.  25,  1919.] 

The  State  adjutant  general's  department  is  making  a  thorough 
canvass  of  all  returning  soldiers  in  order  that  a  place  of  employ- 
ment may  be  found  for  every  man  who  may  need  it. — [Report  of 
State  librarian  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  July  28,  1919.] 

Employment  offices  maintained  in  Maine  by  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment in  cooperation  with  State  and  local  organizations,  report  that 
during  the  six  months'  period  from  January  1  to  June  30,  1919, 
11,444  j>ersons  were  registered  who  were  seeking  employment;  13,331 
requests  for  employees  were  received;  and  7,124  persons  were  placed 
by  these  offices. — [Compiled  from  statistics  furnished  by  IT.  S.  Em- 
ployment Service,  Aug.  8,  1919.] 

The  War  and  Navy  Departments'  citation  has  been  issued  to  08 
firms  in  Maine,  these  employers  having  assured  the  War  and  Navy 
Departments  that  they  will  reemploy  everybody  who  formerly  worked 
with  them  and  left  to  serve  in  the  Ai-my  and  Navy  during  the 
World  War. — [Memorandum  from  assistant  to  the  Secretary  of  War 
in  the  replacement  of  service  men  to  civil  life,  to  U.  S.  Council  of 
National  Defense,  Nov.  20,  1919,] 


MAINE.  119 

The  War  Camp  Community  Service  has  assisted  the  United 
States  Employment  Service  in  Porthmd  by  personally  interviewing 
representatives  of  the  various  business  concerns  urging  them  to  rein- 
state soldiers  in  their  employ  and  to  create  room  for  new  applicants 
wherever  possible. — [Report  of  War  Camp  Community  Service  for 
U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  August,  1919.] 

English  Language  in  Schools. 

Under  an  act  passed  by  the  legislature,  it  is  required  that  in  all 
public  schools  the  common  school  subjects  shall  be  taught  in  the 
English  language  only.  This  measure  does  not  prohibit  the  teaching 
of  any  other  language  as  such.  It  is  part  of  the  Americanization 
program  and  should  make  it  impossible  for  anyone  to  grow  up  in 
Maine  and  not  be  familiar  with  the  English  language. — [Letter  from 
superintendent  of  public  schools  of  Maine  to  U.  S.  Commissioner  of 
Education,  Apr.  9,  1919.] 

Highways. 

The  chief  engineer  of  the  State  advises  that  the  governor  has 
recommended  to  the  legislature  that  a  bond  issue  of  $10,000,000 
for  highway  and  bridge  purposes  be  passed.  He  also  says  that  before 
the  legislature  adjourns  an  amendment  to  the  State  constitution  will 
probably  be  passed  which  will  permit  this  action.  This  amendment 
would  then  have  to  be  voted  on  at  a  general  election,  which  would  be 
called  next  September  in  order  that  if  the  matter  is  passed  favorably 
the  work  can  be  started  during  1920  and  continue  in  1921  in  a  large 
way. — [Bulletin  No.  4G,  Highways  Transport  Committee,  U.  S. 
Council  of  National  Defense.] 

On  October  1,  1919,  three  highway  projects  had  been  approved  in 
the  State,  involving  the  improvement  of  35.5  miles  of  road  at  a  total 
estimated  cost  of  $612,282.90,  of  which  the  Federal  Government  is  re- 
quested to  pay  $306,141.44  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the 
Federal-aid  road  act  of  July  11,  1916,  as  amended  by  the  act  of 
February  28,  1919. — [Statement  prepared  by  Bureau  of  Public 
Koads,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture.] 

Maine  is  working  on  the  reconstruction  of  a  system  of  State  high- 
ways comprising  1,400  miles,  or  5^  per  cent  of  the  entire  road  mile- 
age. This  system  is  substantially  one-half  rebuilt.  If  the  bond  issue 
which  is  to  be  voted  on  in  September  is  carried  the  State  highway 
commission  plans  to  immediately  proceed  with  the  completion  of  this 
system.  It  is  estimated  that  the  work  will  take  four  or  five  years,  from 
the  present  outlook  of  the  labor  market.  If  the  bond  issue  is  successful 
$8,000,000  for  highway  and  bridge  work  will  be  authorized,  and  this 
will  enable  the  State  to  draw  substantially  $2,500,000  of  Federal-aid 
funds.  The  State  has  a  State  aid  system  of  about  3,000  miles,  prac- 
tically one-half  completed.    This  work  is  carried  along  annually  on  a 


120        UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTEUCTION. 

cooperative  basis  between  the  State  and  the  towns.  It  is  expected  to 
expend  in  this  division  of  the  work  during  1919,  $1,300,000  and  to 
build  practically  200  miles  of  road.  The  State  highway  commission 
has  under  maintenance  by  the  patrol  system  4,300  miles  of  road,  both 
improved  and  unimproved  State,  and  State-aid  highways.  This  year 
there  are  practically  500  patrolmen  in  the  employ  of  the  commission, 
and  the  expenditure  under  this  work  by  towns  will  be  about  $200,000 
and  by  the  State  about  $450,000. 

About  $300,000  worth  of  bridges  will  be  built  by  the  State  high- 
way commission  this  year.  This  work  is  paid  for  jointly  by  the 
State,  counties,  and  the  towns. — [Report  of  State  librarian  to  U.  S. 
Council  of  National  Defense,  July  28,  1919.] 

Information  Service  for  Returned  Service  Men. 

The  local  branches  of  the  American  Red  Cross  are  cooperating 
with  other  organizations  in  establishing  contacts  with  service  men 
for  the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  adjustment  of  their  allotments, 
allowance  accounts,  compensation  and  claims,  and  the  reinstatement 
of  lapsed  or  canceled  insurance.  It  is  the  desire  of  the  Bureau  of 
War  Risk  Insurance  that  all  inquiries  of  this  nature  be  cleared 
through  the  home-service  sections  of  the  American  Red  Cross.  Up 
to  April  1,  1919,  the  American  Red  Cross  had  organized  in  Maine 
422  units  with  a  total  of  388  workers. — [Statement  prepared  by 
American  National  Red  Cross  for  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
November,  1919.] 
Land  Settlement. 

An  act. of  1919  provides  for  cooperation  with  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment in  the  settlement  of  returned  soldiers,  sailors,  and  marines  on 
State  lands  and  land  acquired  under  the  act;  and  creates  a  soldier- 
settlement  board,  defining  its  powers  and  duties  and  making  an 
appropriation  therefor.  An  appropriation  is  made  of  so  much  of 
the  reserve  land  fund  not  otherwise  invested  as  may  be  necessary 
to  carry  out  the  provisions  of  the  act. — [Public  Laws  of  Maine,  1919, 
ch.  189.] 

The  soldier-settlement  board  consists  of  the  governor,  the  com- 
missioner of  agriculture,  and  the  State  superintendent  of  schools. — 
[Memorandum  from  Reclamation  Service,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  the  Interior 
to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  July  1,  1919.] 

Public  Works. 

Reports  received  in  January,  1919,  cover  26  public  building  and 
construction  projects  which  were  under  way  or  contemplated  in 
the  State,  aggregating  an  estimated  value  of  $2,765,000.  Of  this 
number  6  were  street  improvements,  estimated  to  cost  $1,300,000; 
and  12  were  schools,  estimated  to  cost  $480,000. — [Statistics  com- 
piled by  Division  of  Public  Works  and  Construction  Developments, 
U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor,  Apr.  17,  1919.] 


MARYLAND.  121 

A  great  memorial  bridge  is  to  be  built  between  Kittery  and  Ports- 
mouth. Maine  has  appropriated  half  a  million  dollars  and  New 
Hampshire  half  a  million,  and  it  is  expected  that  the  Federal  Gov- 
ernment will  appropriate  an  additional  million.  This  work,  which 
is  to  begin  at  once,  will  give  employment  to  a  large  number  of  re- 
turned soldiers.  All  building  projects  held  up  by  the  war  are  rapidly 
being  resumed.— [Report  of  State  librarian  to  U.  S.  Covmcil  of  Na- 
tional Defense,  July  28,  1919.] 
School  Gardens. 

School  gardens  are  being  conducted  in  40  cities  and  towns,  the 
total  present  enrollment  in  the  State  being  15,339.^[Prepared  from 
material  furnished  by  U.  S.  School  Garden  Army  to  U.  S.  Council  of 
National  Defense,  Nov.  1,  1919.] 
Vocational  Reeducation  of  Disabled  Service  Men. 

In  accordance  with  section  2  of  the  Federal  vocational  rehabilita- 
tion act  of  June  27,  1918,  as  amended  July  11,  1919,  arrangements 
had  been  made  up  to  October  25,  1919,  by  the  Federal  Board  for 
Vocational  Education  with  six  educational  institutions  in  the  State 
for  the  reeducation  of  service  men  to  overcome  the  handicap  of  dis- 
abilities incurred  in  the  service.  A  total  of  11  such  men  have  been 
sent  to  these  institutions  for  training.  Arrangements  have  also  been 
made  by  this  board  with  three  industrial  establishments  in  the  State 
whereby  the  latter  have  undertaken  to  train  three  disabled  men. — 
[Compiled  from  statement  prepared  by  Rehabilitation  Division, 
Federal  Board  for  Vocational  Education.] 

MARYLAND. 

Americanization. 

Plans  for  Americanization  Avork  under  the  school  board  through 
the  medium  of  the  schools  were  proposed  at  a  conference  between  the 
mayor  of  Baltimore  and  a  delegation  representing  the  Maryland 
League  for  National  Defense  and  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Asso- 
ciation. It  is  proposed  that  foreign-born  students  in  the  schools 
shall  be  taught  English  ancl  civics  and  be  encouraged  to  become 
citizens,  and  further,  that  this  work  shall  be  carried  on  among  adult 
residents  of  foreign  birth  in  the  night  schools. — [American,  Balti- 
more, Md.,  May  31,  1919.] 

Assistance  for  Service  Men. 

Legal,  medical,  and  financial  aid  are  provided  through  the  local 
home-service  section  of  the  American  Red  Cross.  Additional  pro- 
vision for  disabled  soldiers  ancl  sailors  is  made  by  the  local  office 
of  the  Federal  Board  for  Vocational  Education.  Where  necessary, 
the  American  Reel  Cross  renders  assistance  in  the  way  of  loans  to 
needy  soldiers  and  sailors. — [Letter  from  secretary.  Municipal  Fac- 
tory Site  Corporation  of  Baltimore  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  De- 
fense, Mar.  24,  1919.] 


122        Ul^ITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

The  State  council  of  defense  has  granted  an  appropriation  of 
$25,000  to  complete  a  building  at  Spring  Grove,  where  insane  soldiers 
of  the  State  will  be  cared  for.  The  governor  pointed  out  to  the 
State  council  of  defense  that  all  the  institutions  for  insane  patients 
in  the  State  Avere  crowded  at  present,  and  that  the  need  of  facilities 
for  the  military  patients  was  acute. — [News,  Baltimore,  Md.,  Apr.  3, 
1919.] 

It  is  planned  to  raise  a  fund  of  $100,000  by  the  women's  auxiliary 
of  the  One  hundred  and  fifteenth  Infantry  Regiment  for  welfare 
work  and  other  purposes  connected  with  the  men  of  the  regiment. 
In  the  matter  of  employment  the  women's  auxiliary  will  cooperate 
with  the  existing  bureau  for  returning  soldiers,  sailors,  and  war 
workers. — [Letter  from  secretary.  State  council  of  defense  to  U.  S. 
Council  of  National  Defense,  May  13,  1919.] 

"  Back-to-School  "  Drive. 

The  "Back-to-school"  drive  was  indorsed  by  the  committee,  the 
attendance  officers  were  circularized,  and  their  cooperation  secured. 
The  counties  took  up  the  work  enthusiastically,  and  the  colored 
schools  were  especially  interested.-.— [Report  of  child  conservation 
section  of  the  Field  Division  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
Oct.  1,  1918,  to  July  1,  1919.] 

Coiincil  of  Defense. 

Although  the  State  council  of  defense  has  closed  its  main  activities, 
it  maintains  for  the  time  its  organization-  It  has  especially  called 
upon  the  community  councils  to  keep  up  their  local  organizations 
and  their  interest  in  council  and  community  work. — [Letter  from 
State  council  of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Feb. 
25,  1919.] 

The  State  council  of  defense  is  to  some  extent  placing  its  activities 
with  permanent  organizations.  The  county  councils  are  subject  to 
call.  Community  councils  are  being  formed.  The  council  has  one 
bureau  for  the  employment  of  soldiers  and  sailors.  It  is  estimated 
that  it  placed  6,608  men  to  date.  The  council's  appropriation  will 
keep  this  bureau  going  the  balance  of  the  year  or  as  long  as  needed. 
The  council  continues  to  give  out  press  news  and  to  investigate  socie- 
ties soliciting  funds. — [Reply  from  State  council  of  defense  to  ques- 
tionnaire of  the  Field  Division,  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
June  23,  1919.] 

Employment. 

The  work  of  obtaining  employment  for  returning  service  men  is 
in  good  shape  in  Maryland.  In  order  to  compensate  for  the  iJurtail- 
ment  of  the  work  of  the  United  States  Employment  Service  the 
State  council  of  defense  has  appropriated  $6,000,  so  that  the  worlc 
might  be  continued  without  interruption  to  the  end  of  the  fiscal 


MARYLAND.  123 

1 

year. — [Letter  from  secretary,  State  council  of  defense  to  IT.  S. 
Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  20,  1919.] 

Employment  offices  maintained  in  Maryland  by  the  Federal  Gov- 
ernment, in  cooperation  with  State  and  local  organizations,  report 
that  during  the  six  months'  period  from  January  1  to  June  30,  1919, 
49,847  persons  were  registered  wlio  were  seeking  employment ;  44,924 
requests  for  employees  were  received ;  and  30,590  persons  were  placed 
by  these  offices. — [Compiled  from  statistics  furnished  by  U.  S. 
Emi^loyment  Service,  Aug.  8,  1919.] 

The  War  and  Navy  Departments'  citation  has  been  issued  to  250 
firms  in  Maryland,  these  emploj-ers  having  assured  the  War  and 
Navy  Departments  that  they  will  reemploy  everybody  who  formerly 
Avorked  with  them  and  left  to  serve  in  the  Army  and  Navy  during 
the  World  War. — [Memorandum  from  assistant  to  the  Secretary  of 
War  in  the  replacement  of  service  men  to  civil  life,  to  U.  S.  Council 
of  National  Defense,  Nov.  20,  1919.] 

At  the  regular  session  of  the  legislature  held  January,  1918,  an 
act  was  passed  (Acts  of  1918,  ch.  23)  giving  the  police  commis- 
sioners of  Baltimore  city  power  to  reinstate  members  of  the  police 
force  who  left  to  enter  the  Army  or  Navy. — [Information  Bureau, 
American  National  Ked  Cross,  Compendium  Change  No.  117.] 

Every  effort  is  being  made  by  Baltimore  to  provide  employment 
for  soldiers.  All  men  are  being  taken  back  and  work  has  been  found 
without  difficulty  for  men  who  really  wish  it.  Other  means  are 
being  used  to  protect  the  soldiers  who  come  to  Baltimore  during 
the  period  of  demobilization  and  to  further  their  effort  to  reenter 
civil  life. — [Letter  from  mayor  of  Baltimore  to  U.  S.  Council  of 
National  Defense,  Mar.  19,  1919.] 

Pi'ovision  has  been  made  in  Baltimore  for  securing  employment 
for  returned  soldiers  and  sailors  through  cooperation  of  the  United 
States  Employment  Service,  American  Ked  Cross,  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association,  Knights  of  Columbus,  Jewish  Welfare  Board, 
and  the  War  Camp  Community  Service.  These  organizations  have 
formed  a  central  bureau  for  this  purpose. — [Letter  from  secretary, 
Mu.nicipal  Factory  Site  Corporation  of  Baltimore  to  U.  S.  Council  of 
National  Defense^  Mar.  14,  1919.] 

The  State  branch  of  the  Federal  employment  service  has  records 
in  its  files  which  show  that  the  big  employers  of  Baltimore  have 
taken  back  practically  100  per  cent  of  their  employees,  and  that  the 
40  small  business  establishments  surveyed  have  reinstated  314  of 
their  324  employees  who  went  to  war. — [Sun,  Baltimore,  Md.,  Mar. 
29,  1919.] 

Employers  of  labor  in  Baltimore,  through  their  employment  man- 
agers, are  solving  the  problems  of  obtaining  employment  for  return- 
ing soldiers  and  sailors;  and  the  organization  effected  at  a  meeting 


124        UNITED  STATES  KEADJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

of  the  Employment  Managers'  Association  of  Baltimore  will  be  pre- 
sented as  a  model  to  other  branches  of  the  national  organization 
with  which  the  local  body  will  affiliate  within  a  few  days. — [News, 
Baltimore,  Md.,  Apr.  30,  1919.] 
Highways. 

The  chief  engineer  of  the  State  advises  that  the  legislature  of 
1918  passed  a  bill  providing  for  two  bond  issues  of  $1,500,000  each, 
available  August  1,  1918,  and  August  1,  1919,  respectively.  This 
money  will  be  used  for  road  construction  purposes. — [Bulletin  No. 
46,  Highways  Transport  Committee,  U.  S.  Council  of  National  De- 
fense.] 

At  a  conference  between  the  governor  and  the  State  roads  chair- 
man, arrangements  were  made  to  push  road  work  throughout  the 
State  this  summer  with  all  possible  speed ;  not  only  because  the  war 
prevented  the  construction  of  a  number  of  very  necessary  roads,  but 
in  order  to  give  employment  to  men  lacking  work  owing  to  dis- 
charge from  military  service  or  to  the  shut-down  of  munitions 
plants  and  other  war  industries.  The  State  has  a  large  sum  in  its 
treasury  for  construction  purposes  and  another  large  sum  for 
maintenance.  It  also  has  a  fund  to  be  used  in  connection  with 
construction  by  the  counties  under  the  State-aid  law,  and  another 
•fund  which  has  come  from  the  division  of  the  Federal  appropria- 
tion for  roads. — [Sun,  Baltimore,  Md.,  Apr.  12,  1919.] 

On  October  1,  1919,  35  highway  projects  had  been  approved  in  the 
State,  involving  the  improvement  of  234.73  miles  of  road  at  a  total 
estimated  cost  of  $6,236,089.31,  of  which  the  Federal  Government 
is  requested  to  pay  $2,982,304.37  in  accordance  with  the  provisions 
of  the  Federal-aid  road  act  of  July  11,  1916,  as  amended  by  the 
act  of  February  28, 1919. — [Statement  prepared  by  Bureau  of  Public 
Eoads,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture.] 

Housing  Accommodations. 

By  the  organization  of  the  homebuilders  section  of  the  real  estate 
exchange,  the  real  estate  men  of  Baltimore  hope  to  secure  more  lib- 
eral treatment  by  the  city  and  public  utility  corporations  in  matters 
pertaining  to  house  construction  and  which  will  be  calculated  to  en- 
courage home  building.^ [Sun,  Baltimore,  Md.,  May  9, 1919.] 

In  the  suburbs  of  Baltimore   improvements  totaling  $2,000,000 
and  consisting  of  400  high-grade  daylight  houses  will  be  made  on 
land  known  as  Rose  Hill. — [Manufacturers  Record,  Baltimore,  Md., 
June  26,  1919.] 
Information  Service  for  Returned  Service  Men. 

The  local  branches  of  the  American  Red  Cross  are  cooperating 
with  other  organizations  in  establishing  contacts  with  service  men 
for  the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  adjustment  of  their  allotments, 


MAKYLAND.  125 

allowance  accounts,  compensation  and  claims,  and  the  reinstatement 
of  lapsed  or  canceled  insurance.  It  is  the  desire  of  the  Bureau  of 
War  Risk  Insurance  that  all  inquiries  of  this  nature  be  cleared 
through  the  home-service  sections  of  the  American  Red  Cross.  Up 
to  April  1, 1919,  the  American  Red  Cross  had  organized  in  Maryland 
207  units  with  a  total  of  482  workers. — [Statement  prepared  by 
American  National  Red  Cross  for  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
November,  1919.] 
Land  Settlement. 

As  the  State  legislature  is  not  in  session,  the  agriculture  committee 
of  the  State  council  of  defense  is  acting  as  a  cooperating  agency  for 
the  State  in  matters  pertaining  to  the  settlement  of  soldiers  upon 
land. 

The  governor  has  appointed  a  committee  of  seven  members  to  repre- 
sent the  State  in  soldier-settlement  matters. — [Memorandum  from 
Reclamation  Service,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  the  Interior  to  U.  S.  Council  of 
National  Defense,  Apr.  15,  1919.] 

The  committee  named  by  the  governor  to  cooperate  on  behalf  of 
the  State  with  the  Federal  Government  in  placing  soldiers  on  farms 
is  of  the  opinion  that  what  i«5  needed  in  Maryland  is  not  more  farm 
land  but  more  farmers;  and  that  the  returning  soldiers  desirous  of 
going  on  farms  would  rather  live  in  the  neighborhoods  to  which  they 
have  been  accustomed  and  in  which  they  know  the  social  environ- 
ments, than  to  settle  on  reclaimed  lands.  The  committee,  therefore, 
recommended  that  the  funds  to  be  apportioned  to  Maryland  be  made 
available  for  loans  to  soldiers  to  purchase  farms,  along  the  lines  laid 
doAvn  in  the  farm-loan  act,  or  as  it  is  generally  known,  the  rural 
credits  system.  Instead  of  the  borrowing  limits  of  about  60  per  cent 
on  land  and  about  20  per  cent  on  building  in  the  existing  act,  the 
committee  would  have  authority  given  it  to  loan  soldiers  as  much  as 
100  per  cent  on  farm  property  in  the  State.  To  that  end  it  would 
have  the  bill  amended  and  also  would  have  necessary  amendments 
made  to  the  farm-loan  act.  By  thus  fully  financing  soldiers  in  the 
purchase  of  farms,  the  committee  believes  that  the  soldiers'  financial 
problems  in  this  State  would  be  solved,  as  it  is  felt  they  would  have 
no  difficulty  in  borrowing  enough  money  on  their  own  paper  and  in 
their  own  communities  to  purchase  necessary  equipment  and  sup- 
plies.— [Sun,  Baltimore,  Md.,  June  11,  1919.] 

Motor  Transport  Service. 

A  system  of  rural  express  w^agons  is  in  operation  in  the  State. 
These  rural  wagons  start  from  the  farms  and  run  into  Baltimore  or 
Washington,  some  of  them  a  distance  of  50  miles.  In  the  main  they 
reach  farms  that  are  not  on  the  railroads  or  upon  any  interurban 
lines.  In  Washington  or  Baltimore  the  trucks  pick  up  commodities 
of  the  merchants  of  the  city  and  drop  them  at  the  gate  of  the 


126       UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

farmer y  thus  performing  a  round-trip  service. — [Tennessean,  Nash- 
ville, Tcnn.,  Apr.  20,  1^19.] 

Profiteering. 

The  governor  has  begun  an  inquiry  into  the  exorbitant  cost  of 
food,  with  the  view  of  disclosing  unlawful  practices  in  the  traffic 
of  foodstuifs  and  of  exposing  profiteering  and  punishing  the  profit- 
eers. He  will  emplo}^  the  machinery  of  the  public  service,  the  con- 
servation commission,  and  the  State  agricultural  board  in  carrying 
on  this  work.— [World,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  July  29,  1919.] 
public  Works. 

Eeports  received  in  January,  1919,  cover  23  public  building  and 
construction  projects  which  were  under  way  or  contemplated  in  tho 
State,  aggregating  an  estimated  value  of  $8,620,000.  Of  this  num- 
ber 8  were  street  improvements,  estimated  to  cost  $115,000. — [Sta- 
tistics compiled  by  Division  of  Public  Works  and  Construction 
Developments,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor,  Apr.  IT,  1919.] 

The  mayor  of  Baltiuiore  has  requested  the  heads  of  all  city  depart- 
ments to  commence  all  possible  city  work  in  order  to  give  employ- 
ment to  as  many  returning  soldiers  and  sailors  as  possible,  and  con- 
tracts are  now^  being  given  out  for  sucli  work  with  this  as  the  first 
object. — [Letter  from  secretary.  Municipal  Factory  Site  Corponi- 
tion  of  Baltimore  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  24, 
1919.] 

Baltimore's  program  for  the  paving  of  streets  and  alleys  is  being 
pushed  vigorously.  It  is  thought  the  city  may  improve  75  miles  of 
streets  and  alleys  this  year.  Four  new  contracts  for  this  work  were 
recently  let,  and  bids  on  extensive  work  have  been  o|)ened,  for  which 
many  local  firms  have  entei^ed  competition. — [Sun,  Baltimore,  Md., 
Apr.  17,  1919.] 
EeadJTistment  Problems. 

The  Merchants'  and  Manufacturei-s'  Association  of  Baltimore  has 
appointed  a  committee  on  readjustment  problems  consisting  of  15 
of  the  leading  business  and  professional  men  of  the  city  and  State. 
Among  the  problems  involved  are  labor,  railroad  accommodations^ 
shipping  terminals,  the  availability  of  financial  cooperation,  and 
the  organization  of  selling  agencies  or  other  combinations  whereby 
small  as  well  as  large  manufacturers  and  jobbers  can  engage  in 
foreign  trade.  The  governor  is  a  member  of  the  committee. — [Suit, 
Baltimore,  Md.,  Jan.  17,  1919.] 
Sckeol  Gardeas, 

School  gardens  are  being  conducted  in  16  cities  and  towns,  the 
total  present  enrollment  in  the  State  being  13,2G7.  In  Baltimore 
during  the  season  of  1919  there  were  10,000  children  enrolled.— 
[Prepared  from  material  furnished  by  U.  S.  School  Garden  Army 
to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Nov.  1,  1919.] 


MASSACHUSETTS.  127 

Vocational  Reeducation  of  Disabled  Service  Men. 

In  accordance  with  section  2  of  the  Federal  vocational  rehabilita- 
tion act  of  June  27,  1918,  as  amended  July  11,  1019,  arrangements 
had  been  made  up  to  October  25,  1919,  by  the  Fedetal  Board  for 
Vocational  Education  with  17  educational  institutions  in  the  State 
for  the  reeducation  of  service  men  to  overcome  the  handicap  of  difi- 
abilities  incurred  in  the  service.  A  total  of  213  such  men  have  been 
sent  to  these  institutions  for  training.  Arrangements  have  also  beeii 
made  by  this  board  Avith  17  industrial  establishments  in  the  Statv'. 
whereby  the  latter  have  undertaken  to  train  a  total  of  53  disabled 
men. — [Compiled  from  statement  prepared  by  Eehabilitation  Di- 
vision, Federal  Board  for  Vocational  Education.] 
Welfare  Commission. 

At  the  instance  of  the  chairman  of  the  State  council  of  defense,  an 
unofficial  body  of  interested  men  and  women  met  at  the  headquar- 
ters of  the  State  council  of  defense,  women's  section,  to  discuss  the 
feasibility  of  forming  a  permanent  organization.  State-wide  in  its 
nature,  for  the  consideration  of  problems  connected  with  returning 
to  peace  conditions  and  such  public  questions  as  may  hereafter  arise. 
A  motion  was  unanimously  adopted  to  the  effect  that  the  chairman 
appoint  a  committee,  consisting  of  himself  and  four  others,  two  men 
and  two  women,  to  consider  the  expediency  of  organizing  a  social 
welfare  commission;  the  connnittee  being  empowered  to  report  the 
result  of  its  consideration  to  a  meeting  of  public-spirited  citizens  of 
the  community  to  be  called  by  them. — [American,  Baltimore,  Md., 
Mar.  21,  1919.] 

MASSACHUSETTS. 
Americanization. 

The  department  of  university  extension  of  the  State  board  of  edu- 
cation is  enlisting  the  aid  of  public  schools,  chambers  of  commerce, 
civic  organizations,  industries,  trade-unions,  public  libraries,  and 
other  agencies  in  carrying  out  the  aims  of  the  Americanization  move- 
ment. Chief  among  these  aims  are :  Making  English  the  only  medium 
of  speech ;  establishing  a  better  relationship  between  all  Americans ; 
preserving  the  best  contributions  brought  from  the  Old  World  and 
uniting  them  with  the  best  ideals  of  the  New ;  preparing  aliens  for 
citizenship;  and  making  a  united  people  loyal  to  the  United  States 
with  one  language  and  one  country.  State  agencies  that  will  be  espe- 
cially active  in  this  work  are  the  bureau  of  immigration,  the  free 
public  library  commission,  and  the  committee  on  the  termination  of 
war  activities. — [Christian  Science  Monitor,  Boston,  Mass.,  Dec.  21, 
1918.]  ' 

As  a  first-aid  to  the  Americanization  work  which  it  hopes  to  do 
in  the  State,  the  Massachusetts  Woman  Suffrage  Assoc*iation  opened 


128       UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTEUCTION. 

a  class  to  qualify  women  to  become  teachers  of  civics  to  aliens.  In 
the  first  training  classes  about  150  students  were  enrolled,  five  coun- 
ties being  represented. — [Americanization,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  the  In- 
terior, May  1,  1919.] 

The  senate  has  passed  to  third  reading  a  bill  prohibiting  the  em- 
ployment in  factories  of  persons  between  21  and  40  years  of  ago,  ex- 
cept married  women,  who  can  not  use  the  English  language,  unless 
they  attend  night  classes  3  hours  a  week  for  40  weeks  a  year. —  [Chris- 
tian Science  Monitor,  Boston,  Mass.,  June  13,  1919.] 

The  State  bureau  of  immigration  and  the  State  department  of 
education  are  the  controlling  agencies  in  Americanization  work.  The 
first  is  principally  engaged  in  protection,  and  has  branch  offices  in 
different  cities  of  the  State.  A  fund  of  $36,000  is  provided  this  bu- 
reau for  1919  for  their  part  of  the  work. — [Memorandum  from 
Americanization  division,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  the  Interior  to  U.  S.  Coun- 
cil of  National  Defense,  July  23,  1919.] 

Classes  have  been  formed  in  many  of  the  towns  of  the  State  where 
the  foreign  born  are  numerous  for  the  purpose  of  training  them  in 
citizenship.  The  results  are  varied.  At  North  Attleboro  every 
eifort  was  made  through  publicity  and  by  personal  contact  to  bring 
in  illiterates,  and  the  response  was  encouraging.  In  Pittsfield 
special  committees  and  charitable  organizations  are  attending  to 
this  work.  In  addition  to  the  evening  classes  in  the  schools,  classes 
are  also  conducted  in  the  factories.  The  principal  of  the  school  for 
citizenship  at  Lawrence  reports  that  the  entire  number  (225)  attend- 
ing the  classes  were  candidates  for  citizenship.  Of  this  number  only 
60  had  filed  their  petitions  and  were  thus  eligible  for  diplomas. — 
[Compiled  from  forthcoming  report  of  director  of  citizenship  to 
Commissioner  of  Naturalization,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor,  1920.] 

An  act,  approved  July  10,  provides  for  the  establishing  of 
schools  for  the  education  of  persons  over  21  years  of  age,  who  are 
unable  to  read  and  write  the  English  language.  Any  city  or  town 
desiring  to  cooperate  will  be  entitled  to  receive  from  the  Common- 
w^ealth  one-half  of  the  sums  expended  by  it  in  carrying  out  the  pro- 
visions of  this  act. — [General  Acts  of  Massachusetts,  1919,  ch.  295.] 

Under  the  auspices  of  the  local  chamber  of  commerce,  Attleboro 
has  developed  a  community  fellowship  which  now  includes  about 
33  societies  of  foreign-born  peoples  and  practically  all  of  the  local 
native-born  and  patriotic  and  special  organizations.  Community 
action  and  thought  are  stimulated  through  the  clearing  house  thus 
maintained  by  the  fellowship.  This  clearing  house  is  called  the 
council  and  is  composed  of  two  delegates  from  each  of  the  organiza- 
tions. Meetings  are  held  monthly,  the  details  of  arrangements  being 
assigned  to  a  number  of  community  interests.    The  programs  for 


MASSACHUSETTS.  129 

these  occasions  are  a  mixture  of  discussions  and  concerts,  theatricals 
or  lectures,  community  singing,  and  sociability.  On  special  occasions 
the  entire  program  touches  on  the  topic  of  the  evening.  One  of  the 
council's  most  recent  educational  tasks  was  to  hold  Americanization 
week,  when  mass  meetings,  four-minute  talks,  and  slides  in  picture 
theaters  were  used. — [Americanization,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  the  Interior, 
May  1,  1919.] 

An  Americanization  plan  that  provides  for  imparting  constructive 
information  relating  to  the  alien  races  to  the  natives  of  the  United 
States  has  been  put  into  operation  by  the  service  unit  of  the  Boston 
Young  Men's  Christian  Union,  in  cooperation  with  the  State  bureau 
of  immigration  and  other  agencies  interested.  Meetings  were  begun 
this  week  in  the  various  school  centers. — [Christian  Science  Monitor, 
Boston,  Mass.,  Apr.  5,  1919.] 

Continuing  to  feel  the  urgent  need  of  Americanization  work  in 
business  as  well  as  in  social  relation  with  the  many  immigrants  in 
the  Commonwealth,  the  Boston  Chamber  of  Commerce  has  appointed 
an  Americanization  committee.  It  is  expected  that  the  directors 
of  the  chamber  will  soon  have  ready  for  publication  an  outline  of 
the  program  for  Americanization  in  Boston. — [Christian  Science 
Monitor,  Boston,  Mass.,  Apr.  23,  1919.] 

The  Boston  Public  Library  is  preparing  an  Americanization  pro- 
gram. For  this  purpose  the  examining  committee  has  appointed 
itself  a  committee  of  the  whole.  Subcommittees  on  publicity  and  lec- 
tures are  in  the  making,  and  a  freer  use  of  the  lecture  halls  for  ed- 
ucational purposes  is  a  more  or  less  definite  part  of  the  plan. — [Chris- 
tian Science  Monitor,  Boston,  Mass.,  May  20,  1919.] 

The  cotton  manufacturers  of  New  Bedford  have  enlisted  in  a 
movement  to  teach  all  of  the  operatives  in  the  mills  to  speak  the 
English  language;  to  understand  civil  government;  and  to  have  an 
understanding  of  and  respect  and  sympathy  for  American  ideals, 
American  manner  of  living,  American  standards  of  conduct,  and 
American  ideas  of  liberty.  Boy  scout  troops  will  be  organized 
among  the  workers  to  reach  the  younger  generation  who  need  in- 
struction and  training  in  American  citizenship. — [Christian  Science 
Monitor,  Boston,  Mass.,  Feb.  5,  1919.] 

Springfield  will  open  a  community  center  as  part  of  its  Ameri- 
canization program  for  the  purpose  of  creating  a  new  spirit  of  co- 
operation and  bringing  into  harmony,  with  a  well-defined  national 
ideal,  masses  of  foreign-born  immigrants.  The  support  of  leaders 
of  the  racial  groups  involved  has-been  enlisted  and  cooperating  com- 
mittees have  been  appointed. — [Christian  Science  Monitor,  Boston, 
Mass.,  Jan.  27,  1919.] 
134286"— 20 9 


130        UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

Labor  unions  in  Springfield  are  assisting  in  the  Americanization 
pi'ogram  by  naming  a  committee  to  work  in  conjunction  witli  the 
board  of  education.  A  questionnaire  will  be  sent  out  to  the  unions 
asJvino-  the  number  of  their  members  who  are  citizens  of  the  United 
States,  the  number  of  alien  members  who  have  taken  out  first 
naturalization  papers,  and  the  number  of  those  who  have  failed  to 
do  so.  Classes  will  then  be  organized  to  educate  any  illiterates. — 
[Christian  Science  Monitor,  Boston,  Mass.,  Feb.  18,  1919.] 

According  to  orders  issued  to  subdivision  heads  by  the  superin- 
tendent of  the  street  department,  employees  of  the  department  who 
have  not  declared  their  intention  of  becoming  citizens  before  April  1 
must  give  up  their  jobs.  The  decision  to  Americanize  the  street 
department  force  Avas  made  some  time  ago,  and  most  of  the  foreign- 
ers have  already  taken  out  first  papers. — [Republican,  Springfield, 
Mass.,  Mar.  19,  1919.] 

Unnaturalized  citizens  will  henceforth  receive  no  welcome  in  tho 
Springfield  Central  Labor  Union.  Answers  to  a  questionnaire 
showed  that  a  number  of  unnaturalized  men  were  already  union 
members.  To  meet  the  need  of  Americanization  a  special  school  has 
been  established. — [Foreign- American  Series,  Bulletin  No.  10,  Na- 
tional War  Work  Council,  Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  New 
York,  N.  Y.] 
Assistance  for  Service  Men  and  Their  Families. 

The  governor  has  sent  to  the  legislature  a  bill  authorizing  an  ap- 
propriation of  $10,000  to  be  expended  under  the  direction  of  the 
governor  and  council,  for  the  purpose  of  aiding  and  finding  employ- 
ment for  retrirned  and  returning  soldiers,  sailors,  and  marines. — ■ 
[Post,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  24,  1919.] 

Massachusetts  is  maintaining  a  bureau  to  provide  aid  for  soldiers' 
families.  State  and  local  committees  have  also  been  established  for 
obtaining  employment  for  returning  soldiers  and  for  giving  legal, 
medical,  and  other  aid.  Bills  are  pending  in  the  legislature  for  pro- 
viding bonuses  for  soldiers  and  sailors  and  for  their  return  to 
farms. — [Telegram  from  the  governor  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National 
Defense,  Mar.  24,  1919.] 

Senate  bill  304  calls  for  the  payment  to  every  soldier,  sailor,  and 
marine  who  served  to  the  credit  of  Massachusetts  in  the  war  against 
Germany  by  the  city  or  town  wherein  he  resided  at  the  time  of  his 
enlistment  or  induction  into  the  service  of  the  United  States  of  such 
weekly  sums  of  money  as  shall  be  equivalent  to  the  salary  he  was 
receiving  at  the  time  of  his  entrance,  not  exceeding,  however,  the 
sum  of  $20  a  week,  these  weekly  payments  to  continue  until  the  re- 
cipient shall  obtain  employment  as  remunerative  as  that  which  he 
abandoned  in  order  to  enter  the  service,  but  not  for  a  longer  term 


MASSACHUSETTS.  131 

than  three  months  following  his  discharge. — [General  Court  of 
1919,  S.  304.] 

House  bill  1123  would  extend  the  time  permitting  city  and  town 
aid  to  dependent  relatives  of  any  soldier,  sailor,  or  marine  resident 
of  the  State  who  entered  the  service  after  February  3,  1917,  so  that 
the  allowance  authorized  would  cease  on  the  expiration  of  one  month 
after  termination  of  the  service  by  death  or  discharge  instead  of  at 
the  date  of  termination.— [General  Court  of  1919,  H.  1123.] 

General  Acts  of  Massachusetts,  1919,  chapter  108,  provides  war  al- 
lowances of  not  more  than  $50  a  month  during  the  war  and  for  six 
months  thereafter  to  the  dependents  of  enlisted  men  serving  honor- 
ably and  having  a  residence  in  Massachusetts  on  February  3,  1917. 
The  act  does  not  apply  to  commissioned  officers.  It  applies  to  en- 
listed men  joining  the  service  between  February  3,  1917,  and  Novem- 
lier  11,  1918.  Chapter  139  provides  that  war  allowances  cease  upon 
the  death  or  discharge  of  the  enlisted  man,  but  in  cases  where  active 
service  is  terminated  by  death  or  discharge  or  transfer  to  the  reserve 
it  continues  during  the  current  month  and  for  two  months  thereafter 
if  the  aid  is  needed. 

General  Acts  of  Massachusetts,  1911,  chapter  587,  as  amended  by 
chapter  108,  acts  of  1918,  and  chapter  151,  acts  of  1919,  provides  that 
in  case  of  death  in  the  service  or  after  an  honorable  discharge  from 
injuries,  disability,  or  illness  incurred  during  the  period  of  the  war, 
a  man's  dependents  may  be  given  State  aid  on  application  in  an 
amount  ranging  from  $G  to  $12  per  month.  The  law  also  applies  to 
nurses.  Chapter  151,  General  Acts  of  1919,  further  provides  that 
where  a  person  was  discharged  by  reason  of  disability  and  is  in  need 
he  may  apply  for  and  receive  aid  in  accordance  with  his  need.  After 
his  death  his  dependents  may  receive  relief. — [Information  Bureau, 
American  National  Bed  Cross,  Compendium  Change  No.  117.] 

An  act,  approved  July  7,  provides  that  the  cost  of  burial  of 
the  body  of  any  discharged  service  man  or  men  dying  in  the  service, 
whether  he  be  a  soldier,  sailor,  or  marine,  or  the  body  of'  his  w  ife, 
widow,  or  dependent  mother,  shall  be  borne  by  the  State.  The  ex- 
l^ens^  of  a  burial  as  aforesaid  shall  not  exceed  $60;  but  if  the  total 
expense  of  the  burial,  by  whomsoever  incurred,  shall  exceed  the  sum 
of  $135  no  payment  therefor  shall  be  made  by  the  State.  The  bene- 
ficiaries of  the  act  must  be  citizens  of  Massachusetts. — [General  Acts 
of  Massachusetts,  1919,  ch.  290.] 

The  committee  at  Boston  for  the  reception  of  returning  soldiers, 
sailors,  and  marines  has  appointed  advisers  for  the  purpose  of  help- 
ing in  the  work  of  putting  returned  soldiers  back  into  civil  life. 
These  advisers  are  members  of  the  committee  and  are  practical  busi- 
ness and  professional  men. — [Letter  from  secretary,  Boston  com- 


132       UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

mittee  for  the  reception  of  returning  soldiers,  sailors,  and  marines, 
to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  27,  1919.] 
"  Back-to-School "  Drive. 

The  "  Back-to-school "  drive  in  Massachusetts  was  not  adopted 
as  a  State-wide  drive.  The  State  board  laws  provided  adequate 
means  for  the  enforcement  of  compulsory  education  and  for  the  pre- 
vention of  illegal  child  labor.  The  State  child-labor  committee, 
how^ever,  are  interested  in  the  employment  certificates  and  stay-in- 
school  phases  of  the  suggested  outline  of  the  "  Back-to-school " 
drive. — [Report  of  child  conservation  section  of  the  Field  Division 
to  IT.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Oct.  1,  1918,  to  July,  1919.] 

Bonuses  for  Service  Men. 

An  act  has  been  approved  providing  for  the  payment  of  a  bonus 
of  $1G0  to  every  private  and  noncommissioned  officer  who  served 
in  the  war  against  Germany.  The  measure  provides  for  a  bond  issue 
of  $20,000,000,  running  for  a  period  of  10  years,  to  be  financed 
through  an  increase  in  the  poll  tax.  Civilian  taxpayers  are  re- 
quired under  the  terms  of  the  bill  to  pay  a  poll  tax  of  $4  instead  of 
$2,  and  the  State  treasurer  is  directed  to  draw  upon  each  city  and 
town  for  the  full  amount  of  its  poll-tax  allotment,  regardless  of 
whether  the  taxes  have  been  collected.  Nearest  relatives  of  deceased 
soldiers  and  sailors  would  be  given  the  gratuities. — [General  Acts  of 
Massachusetts,  1919,  ch.  153.] 

The  home-service  sections  of  all  Massachusetts  chapters  of  the 
American  Red  Cross  will  assist  honorably  discharged  soldiers  and 
sailors  in  securing  the  $100  bonus  provided  for  by  recent  act  of  the 
legislature. — [Republican,  Springfield,  Mass.,  July  13,  1919.] 

Committee  on  Public  Safety. 

The  Massachusetts  Committee  on  Public  Safety  was  dissolved  by 
the  governor  on  November  14,  1918.  A  small  committee  on  ter- 
mination of  war  activities  was  appointed  to  close  the  affairs  of  the 
war-time,  organization.  When  this  was  accomplished,  the  new  com- 
mittee was  dissolved.  Such  activities  as  appeared  to  be  of  a  per- 
manent nature — Americanization,  employment  of  service  men,  etc. — 
were  transferred  to  appropriate  departments. — [Reply  from  com- 
mittee on  termination  of  war  activities  to  questionnaire  of  the  Field 
Division,  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  June  26,  1919.] 

Education  of  Returned  Service  Men. 

Senate  bill  246  provides  that  in  order  to  have  a  suitable  memorial 
to  the  soldiers  and  sailors  of  the  Commonwealth  who  have  served 
during  the  war,  and  to  provide  educational  opportunities  which  will 
also  develop  the  commerce  and  industries  of  the  Commonwealth, 
there  shall  be  established  in  the  capital  of  the  State  an  educational 


MASSACHUSETTS.  133 

institution  which  shall  be  called  the  Massachusetts  Memorial  Insti- 
tute of  Commerce  and  Industry.  This  institution  shall  offer  edu- 
cational opportunities  to  all  returned  soldiers,  whether  injured  or 
not,  provide  training  for  those  disabled  in  industry,  and  furnish 
educational  opportunities  for  the  youth  and  manhood  of  the  Com- 
monwealth which  will  aid  and  develop  its  industries,  commerce,  and 
workers.— [General  Court  of  1919,  S.  246.] 

Employment. 

House  bill  217  authorizes  the  creation  of  a  commission  on  blind 
and  crippled,  to  find  employment  for  all  the  physically  crippled  and 
blind  persons  in  the  State  who  for  a  period  of  20  years  have  resided 
in  Massachusetts,  or  who  were  born  in  Massachusetts,  or  who  be- 
came crippled,  blind,  or  partially  blind  while  in  the  service  of  the 
Army  or  Navy  of  the  United  States,  or  while  in  Massachusetts. — 
[General  Court  of  1919,  H.  217.] 

House  bill  991  authorizes  the  State  forester  to  employ  citizens 
of  Massachusetts  honorably  discharged  from  the  military  service 
of  the  United  States  in  the  recent  World  War,  in  removing  fallen 
trees  and  dead  wood  on  the  land  owned  by  the  Commonwealth.— 
[General  Court  of  1919,  H.  991.] 

House  bill  1246  directs  cities  and  towns  to  reinstate  in  their  serv- 
ice all  soldiers  and  sailors  honorably  discharged  from  the  service 
of  the  United  States  who  were  formerly  in  their  employ,  without 
further  civil-service  examination,  and  repeals  any  acts  inconsistent 
therewith.— [General  Court  of  1919,  H.  1246.] 

Eegulation  of  private  employment  agencies  and  the  extension  of 
free  public  agencies  in  the  State  were  favored  by  representatives  of 
organized  labor  at  a  public  hearing  on  proposed  legislation  before 
the  legal  affairs  committee  of  the  legislature.  One  bill  being  con- 
sidered would  place  supervision  of  all  private  employment  agencies 
in  the  hands  of  the  State  board  of  labor  and  industries.  Opposition 
to  regulation  was  registered  by  representatives  of  private  agencies 
for  teachers.— [Christian  Science  Monitor,  Boston,  Mass.,  Mar.  11, 
1919.] 

The  governor  has  announced  that  little  diiRculty  is  being  experi- 
enced in  the  State  in  taking  care  of  the  returning  soldiers.  More 
than  90  per  cent  of  those  who  return  are  not  asking  for  assistance 
from  the  various  organizations  established  to  help  them.  Public 
works  are  planned,  and  an  appropriation  of  $1,600,000  for  new  build- 
ings is  pending.  An  appropriation  of  $2,800,000  for  highway  con- 
struction is  also  pending,  and  there  is  under  advisement  additional 
building  construction  to  the  amount  of  about  $1,500,000.  One  of  the 
large  Boston  newspapers,  for  January  and  February,  1918,  had 
20,000  advertisements  of  those  who  were  wanting  to  employ  help. 
In  1919  it  had  over  22,000,  showing  that  Massachusetts  has  plenty 


134        UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

of  work  for  those  who  want  it.  The  State  is  looking  forward  to  a 
period  of  prosj)erity  when  the  readjustment  period  is  over. — [Record, 
Chelsea,  Mass.,  Mar.  15,  1919.] 

A  bill  has  been  passed  by  the  legislature  appropriating  $10,000 
for  investigating  the  economic  and  other  reasons  which  have  re- 
sulted in  the  nonemploA^ment  of  soldiers,  sailors,  and  marines,  and 
of  procuring  employment  for  them.  The  act  proyides  for  the  ap- 
pointment of  a  commission  to  carry  out  the  purpose  of  the  act. — 
[Special  Acts  of  Massachusetts,  1919,  ch.  112.] 

Women's  organizations  in  the  Stale  are  being  urged  in  a  special 
campaign  initiated  by  the  Woman's  Committee  of  the  United  States 
Council  of  National  Defense,  to  provide  for  the  employment  of 
working  women  by  supporting  the  women's  division  of  the  United 
States  Employment  Service. — [News  release  of  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor, 
Apr.  22,  1919.] 

An  act,  approved  February  21,  provides  that  any  discharged 
service  man  who  was  in  the  service  of  the  State  shall  be  reappointed 
in  his  former  i3osition,  provided  that  the  incumbent  thereof  is  a 
temporary  appointee;  or,  if  his  former  position  has  been  filled  by 
a  permanent  appointment,  he  shall  be  employed  in  a  similar  posi- 
tion in  said  department,  if  a  vacancy  exists  therein. — [General  Acts 
of  Massachusetts,  1919,  ch.  14.] 

Among  measures  enacted  as  special  laws  and  relating  to  soldiers, 
sailors,  and  marines,  are  two  acts  making  appropriations  for  aid  in 
finding  employment  for  them. — [General  Acts  of  Massachusetts, 
1919,  chs.  112,^53.] 

An  act,  approved  April  24,  provides  for  a  commission  to  secure 
employment  for  discharged  soldiers  and  sailors. — [General  Acts  of 
Massachusetts,  1919,  ch.  125.] 

The  supplementary  budget  sent  by  the  governor  to  the  State 
house  recommends  the  expenditure  of  $2,479,000  for  relieving  the 
unemployment  situation. — [Wall  Street  »Tournal,  New^  York,  N.  Y., 
A.pr.  26,  1919.] 

Acts,  approved  April  9  and  16,  relate,  respectively,  to  reinstate- 
ment of  service  men  in  State  and  in  county  retirement  systems. — 
[General  Acts  of  Massachusetts,  1919,  chs.  94,  106.] 

The  State  commission  on  employment  of  discharged  soldiers, 
sailors,  and  marines  is  sending  letters  to  all  of  the  large  employers 
throughout  the  State  urging  them  to  cooperate  Avith  the  commission 
in  finding  jobs.  The  commission,  which  was  established  by  the 
legislature,  acts  as  a  general  clearing  house  in  the  State  for  the 
work  of  finding  positions  for  the  men  and  has  placed  many.  In 
addition,  it  has  aided  men  in  straightening  out  tangles  over  allot- 
ments, insurance,  and  transportation  expenses. — [Republican, Sj^ring- 
field,  Mass.,  June  1,  1919.] 


MASSACHUSETTS.  135 

Employment  offices  maintained  in  Massachusetts  by  the  Federal 
Government  in  cooperation  with  State  and  local  organizations,  re- 
port that  during  the  six  months'  period  from  Januar}^  1  to  June  30, 
1919,  68,298  persons  were  registered  who  were  seeking  employment; 
95,480  requests  for  employees  were  received;  and  35,092  persons 
were  placed  by  these  offices. — [Compiled  from  statistics  furnished 
by  U.  S.  Employment  Service,  Aug.  8,  1919.] 

The  AYar  and  Navy  Departments'  citation  has  been  issued  to  2,716 
firms  in  Massachusetts,  these  employers  having  assured  the  War  and 
Navy  Departments  that  they  will  reemploy  everybody  who  formerly 
worked  with  them  and  left  to  serve  in  the  Army  and  Navy  during 
the  World  War. — [Memorandum  from  assistant  to  the  Secretary  of 
War  in  the  replacement  of  service  men  to  civil  life,  to  U.  S.  Council 
of  National  Defense,  Nov.  20,  1919.] 

The  Boston  Chamber  of  Commerce  is  undertaking  a  movement  to 
secure  positions  for  the  soldiers  of  the  One  hundred  and  fourth 
Regiment,  upon  their  discharge  from  the  service.  The  chamber  is 
also  asking  that  all  soldiers  who  are  alread}^  discharged  and  have 
registered  at  the  bureau,  but  who  are  not  employed^  to  register  at 
its  rooms,  in  order  that  it  may  check  up  its  emplo^^ment  records. — 
[Republican,  Springfield,  Mass.,  Apr.  6,  1919.] 

The  Salem  Chamber  of  Commerce  proposes,  if  steps  are  not  taken 
by  existing  governmental  agencies,  to  appoint  a  committee  to  sec 
that  each  man  who  has  served  with  the  colors  and  has  an  honorable 
discharge  is  helped  in  every  way  possible  either  to  get  his  old  place 
back,  or,  if  he  wants  a  different  kind  of  position,  to  assist  him  to 
obtain  it,  provided  he  is  properly  qualified. — [News,  Salem,  Mass., 
Nov.  23,  1918.] 

According  to  the  Worcester  bureau  established  to  find  employ- 
ment for  returning  soldiers,  a  job  awaits  every  Worcester  man  in 
the  Twenty-sixth  Division  upon  his  return.  The  bureau  states  that 
Worcester  employers  are  cooperating  to  this  effect  and  there  will  be 
little  or  no  idleness  prevailing  after  the  division  is  demobilized. — 
[Post,  Worcester,  Mass.,  Apr.  2,  1919.] 

Food  Control. 

House  bill  186  proposes  to  establish  the  Massachusetts  Food  Com- 
mission, with  power  to  fix  prices,  wholesale  and  retail,  for  food 
products. 

House  bill  451  j)rovides  for  control  by  the  State  of  the  production, 
price,  and  sale  of  all  milk  and  its  by-products  in  or  coming  within 
the  State.  This  bill  would  also  apply  in  its  present  form  to  con- 
densed or  evaporated  milk. — [National  "Wliolesale  Grocers'  Asso- 
ciation Bulletin,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  March,  1919.] 


136        UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

House  bill  505  requires  all  persons  maintaining  establishments 
for  the  i)rocluction,  distribution,  or  sale  of  foodstuffs  or  beverages 
to  register  with  boards. — [Journal  of  Commerce,  New  York,  N.  Y., 
Apr.  7,  1919.] 

Food  Destruction. 

House  bill  759  prohibits  the  destruction,  etc.,  of  food  in  order  to 
raise  the  price  of  such  food  or  to  restrain  trade. — [Journal  of  Com- 
merce, New  York,  N.  Y.,  Apr.  7,  1919.] 

Highways. 

House  bill  1163,  introduced  January  29,  is  a  bill  accompanying 
recommendations  of  the  State  highway  commission  relative  to  con- 
struction of  State  roads. — [Bulletin,  Committee  Work  of  General 
Court  of  1919,  Feb.  10,  1919.] 

The  highway  commissioner  of  the  State  advises  that  there  is  under 
consideration  a  bond  issue  of  $1,000,000  a  year  for  five  years  for 
highway  construction.  The  bill  is  now  pending  before  the  legis- 
lature, which  is  in  session.  He  states  that  there  will  probably  be 
spent  on  road  work  this  year  by  the  highway  department  something 
like  $4,000,000.  This  expenditure  is  independent  of  an  expenditure 
of  about  $14,000,000  a  year  which  will  be  made  by  the  various  cities 
and  towns  of  the  State. — [Bulletin  No.  46,  Highways  Transport 
Committee,  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense.] 

An  act,  approved  April  9,  is  that  the  State  avail  itself  of  the 
$4,000,000,  which  is  the  State's  quota  of  the  $200,000,000  fund  appro- 
priated by  the  United  States  Government  for  the  construction  of 
highways  in  cooperation  w^ith  the  several  States.  Congress  has  stipu- 
lated that  preference  in  employment  shall  be  given  to  honorably 
discharged  soldiers,  sailors,  and  marines. — [General  Acts  of  Massa- 
chusetts, 1919,  ch.  89.] 

On  October  1,  1919,  25  highway  projects  had  been  approved  in  the 
State,  involving  the  improvement  of  85.35  miles  of  road,  at  a  total 
estimated  cost  of  $2,548,818.10,  of  which  the  Federal  Government 
is  requested  to  pay  $1,164,313.73,  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of 
the  Federal-aid  road  act  of  July  11,  1916,  as  amended  by  the  act 
of  February  28,  1919. — [Statement  prepared  by  Bureau  of  Public 
Eoads,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture.] 

Home  for  Disabled  Service  Men. 

House  bill  1244  authorizes  the  appropriation  of  $500,000  to  pro- 
vide a  free  home  for  citizens  of  the  State  who  became  disabled  while 
serving  in  the  military  or  naval  forces  of  the  United  States  during 
the  World  War.— [General  Court  of  1919,  H.  1244.] 
Housing  Accommodations. 

In  the  State  budget,  which  has  passed  the  house  and  is  now  await- 
ing passage  in  the  senate,  is  a  provision  for  $50,000  for  the  building 


MASSACHUSETTS.  137 

of  houses  to  be  sold  to  workingmen  at  cost.  The  gOA^ernor  has  spoken 
favorably  on  the  project,  and  there  is  little  doubt  that  the  measure 
will  pass.— [Tribune,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Mar.  13,  1919.] 

The  Haverhill  city  planning  board  suggests  among  other  means 
of  remedying  the  distressing  shortage  of  houses  that  certain  waste 
land  be  reclaimed  and  low-cost  homes  be  built  for  workingmen. 

Lexington  is  to  be  enlarged  by  the  addition  of  300  homes.  The  Lex- 
ington Housing  Club  Avill  comprise  the  purchasers  of  the  properties. 
Housing  bonds  will  be  issued  to  70  per  cent  of  the  value  of  the  prop- 
erty and  sold  to  investors,  with  interest  at  6  per  cent. — [Housing 
Betterment,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  February,  1919.] 

Information  Service  for  Returned  Service  Men. 

The  local  branches  of  the  American  Red  Cross  are  cooperating 
with  other  organizations  in  establishing  contacts  with  service  men 
for  the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  adjustment  of  their  allotments, 
allowance  accounts,  compensation  and  claims,  and  the  reinstatement 
of  lapsed  or  canceled  insurance.  It  is  the  desire  of  the  Bureau  of 
War  Eisk  Insurance  that  all  inquiries  of  this  nature  be  cleared 
through  the  home-service  sections  of  the  American  Red  Cross.  Up 
to  April  1,  1919,  the  American  Red  Cross  had  organized  in. Massa- 
chusetts 282  units  with  a  total  of  786  workers. — [Statement  prepared 
by  American  National  Red  Cross  for  U.  S.  Council  of  National  De- 
fense, November,  1919.] 

Labor  Participation  in  Business  Management. 

An  act  was  approved  by  the  legislature  permitting  a  manufac- 
turing corporation  to  provide  by  by-laws  for  the  nomination  and 
election  by  its  employees  of  one  or  more  of  them  as  members  of  its 
board  of  directors.  A  director  so  elected  by  the  employees  will  have 
the  same  rights  and  powers  and  will  be  subject  to  the  same  duties 
and  responsibilities  as  a  director  elected  by  the  stockholders. — [Gen- 
eral Acts  of  Massachusetts,.  1919,  ch.  70.] 

Land  Settlement. 

Two  bills  were  introduced  (H.  Docs.  290  and  818),  and  the  merger 
bill  (S.  Doc.  371)  was  reported  by  the  committee  on  reconstruction. 
This  bill  provides  for  the  Massachusetts  Farm  Settlement  Corpora- 
tion and  for  cooperation  with  the  United  States  on  soldier  settle- 
ments. The  bill  carries  an  appropriation  of  $500,000.  The  bill  was 
referred  to  the  next  general  court. — [Memorandum  from  Reclama- 
tion Service,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  the  Interior  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National 
Defense,  July  1,  1919.] 

Preference  to  Returned  Service  Men  in  Public  Employment. 

House  bill  1124  would  provide  that  the  meaning  of  the  word  "vet- 
eran" in  the  revised  law^s  should  be  held  to  include  any  person  who 


138        UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

served  in  the  Army  or  Navy  of  the  United  States  in  the  Sjpanish- 
American  War  or  in  the  war  against  Germany  and  was  honorably 
discharged  therefrom,  who  resided  in  the  Commonwealth  at  the 
time  of  enlistment,  or  who  has  resided  for  three  years  continuously 
in  the  Commonwealth  next  preceding  the  filing  of  his  application 
for  preference  in  the  civil  service  of  the  Commonwealth  or  of  any 
city  or  town  thereof.— [General  Court  of  1919,  H.  1124.] 

Senate  bill  283  provides  that  the  provisions  of  the  civil-service  laAvs 
and  the  regulations  made  thereunder,  in  so  far  as  they  impose  restric- 
tions upon  employment  in  the  service  of  the  Commonw^ealth,  shall 
not  for  two  years  apply  to  applicants  for  such  employment  who  have 
served  to  the  credit  of  Massachusetts  in  the  military,  naval,  or  ma- 
rine forces  of  the  United  States  in  the  war  against  Germany,  but 
that  such  applicants  shall  in  all  cases  be  entitled  to  preference  in 
said  employment.— [General  Court  of  1919,  S.  283.] 

Senate  bill  292  provides  that  any  person  who  has  been  honorably 
discharged  from  the  service  of  the  United  States  may  register  with 
the  State  civil-service  commission  for  appointment  within  the 
classified  civil  service,  and  shall  be  exempt  from  competitive  exami- 
nation. After  determining  their  qualifications  the  civil-service 
commission  shall  first  certify  such  applicants  to  the  appointing 
power  and  appointments  shall  be  made  from  that  certification.-— 
[General  Court  of  1919,  S.  292.] 

Chapter  89,  approved  April  9,  provides  for  preference  to  service 
men  in  the  construction  of  highways  with  Federal  aid. — [Slip  Laws 
of  Massachusetts,  1919.] 

An  act  passed  by  the  legislature  and  approved  by  the  governor  pro- 
vides that  the  veterans  of  wars  in  which  the  United  States  has  been 
engaged,  upon  passing  examinations  for  positions  classified  under  the 
civil  service,  shall  have  their  names  placed,  in  the  order  of  their  re- 
spective standing,  above  the  names  of  other  applicants  and  shall  be 
certified  accordingly.  In  the  labor  service  also  preference  is  given  to 
veterans. — [General  Acts  of  Massachusetts,  1919,  ch.  150.] 

The  legislative  committee  on  reconstruction  recently  voted  to  re- 
port, slightly  modified,  a  bill  introduced  by  the  soldiers'  and  sailors' 
commission  to  require  private  contractors  on  public  works  to  give 
preference  in  the  matter  of  employment  to  war  veterans. — [Christian 
Science  Monitor,  Boston,  Mass.,  June  5,  1919.] 
Price  Fixing. 

A  cost-of-living  conference  was  held  at  Boston  October  24  of  fair- 
price   committees   appointed  by  the   mayors  of   all   Massachusetts 
cities.— [Post,  Washington,  D.  C,  Oct.  25,  1919.] 
Profiteering. 

An  act,  approved  July  10,  provides  that  maintaining  or  in- 
creasing unreasonably  the  price  of  any  necessity  of  life  is  hereby 


MASSACHUSETTS.  139 

declared  to  be  a  crime.  Whoever,  in  combination  or  association  with 
another,  or  others,  enters  into  any  agreement  or  understanding  to 
maintain,  or  increase,  or  cause  to  be  maintained  or  increased  unrea- 
sonably, the  price  of  any  necessity  of  life,  shall  be  deemed  guilty  of 
conspiracy,  and  upon  conviction  shall  be  x^unished  by  imprisonment 
in  the  house  of  correction  for  a  term  of  not  more  than  two  years,  or 
by  a  fine  of  not  more  than  $1,000,  or  by  both  fine  and  imprisonment.— 
[General  Acts  of  Massachusetts,  1919,  ch.  298.] 
Public  Works. 

Reports  received  in  January,  1919,  cover  123  public  building  and 
construction  projects  which  were  under  way  or  contemplated  in  the 
State,  aggregating  an  estimated  value  of  $33,485,000.  Of  this  num- 
ber 35  were  street  improvements,  estimated  to  cost  $11,450,000;  19 
were  schools  estimated  to  cost  $3,660,000,  and  15  were  sewers,  esti- 
mated to  cost  $3,480,000. — [Statistics  compiled  by  Division  of 
Public  Works  and  Construction  Developments,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  La- 
bor, Apr.  17.  1919.] 
Reconstruction  Commission. 

House  bill  36  provides  for  the  appointment  by  the  governor  of  a 
commission  on  reconstruction  composed  of  five  representatives  of 
business  interests  and  five  labor  men,  for  the  purpose  of  readjusting 
industrial,  labor,  and  economic  conditions  after  the  war.  The  com- 
mission would  have  power  to  investigate  and  to  make  recommenda- 
tions relative  to  problems  affecting  labor,  demobilization  of  indus- 
trial and  war  resources,  interstate  trade,  establishment  of  now  in- 
dustries, agriculture,  distribution  of  fuel,  shipping  and  shipyards, 
housing  conditions  and  rentals,  and  wfA'  logishition. — [General 
Court  of  1919,  H.  36.] 

House  bill  101  would  establish  a  commission  of  50  members,  to  be 
known  as  the  reconstruction  commission,  composed  of  State  officials, 
members  of  the  senate  and  house,  representatives  of  labor,  and  others 
to  be  appointed  by  the  governor,  to  investigate  matters  relating  to 
social  and  economic  reconstruction,  to  the  regulation  of  finance  and 
trade  occasioned  by  post-war  circumstances,  and  to  report  the  result 
of  its  investigations,  with  its  recommendations  for  legislation  or 
otherwise,  to  the  general  court  not  later  than  May  1,  1919.  Fifty 
thousand  dollars  for  expenses  is  carried  in  the  bill. — [General  Court 
of  1919,  H.  101.] 
Eehabilitation  of  Physically  Handicapped  Persons. 

A  bill  was  passed  July  1  by  the  legislature  providing  for  the 
appointment  of  a  commission  to  investigate  the  subject  of  taking 
care  of  crippled  soldiers  and  civilians  and  reporting  the  best  plan  of 
action  for  the  Commonwealth  to  take  in  connection  with  the  Na- 
tional Government  and  on  its  own  behalf. — [General  Acts  of  Massa- 
chusetts, 1919,  ch.  56.] 


140       UNITED  STATES  KEADJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUriTION. 

School  Gardens. 

School  gardens  are  being  conducted  in  88  cities  and  towns,  the 
total  present  enrollment  in  the  State  being  51,710.  In  Boston  dur- 
ing the  season  of  1919,  10,000  children  were  enrolled. — [Prepared 
from  material  furnished  by  U.  S.  School  Garden  Army  to  U.  S. 
Council  of  National  Defense,  Nov.  1,  1919.] 
Tax  Exemption  for  Service  Men. 

Chapter  9  of  the  general  acts,  approved  February  17,  exempts 
those  who  have  engaged  in  the  military  or  naval  service  from  poll 
taxes  from  1917  up  to  and  including  the  year  of  their  discharge.  An 
act,  approved  March  6,  authorizes  the  granting,  without  fee,  of 
special  licenses  as  hawkers  and  peddlers  to  disabled  veterans  of  the 
World  War. — [General  Acts  of  Massachusetts,  1919,  ch.  22.] 

Chapter  47  of  the  general  acts,  approved  March  21,  provides  that 
no  fee  shall  be  collected  from  returned  service  men  for  licenses  as 
insurance  brokers. — [Slip  Laws  of  Massachusetts,  1919.] 
Vocational  Education  of  Physically  Handicapped  Persons. 

Senate  bill  245  provides  that  any  person  who  is  blind,  deaf  and 
dumb,  or  otherwise  seriously  handicapped,  who  is  capable  and  de- 
sirous of  entering  a  university,  college,  or  technical  school,  and  who 
has  been  resident  of  the  State  for  at  least  five  years,  shall  receive 
annually  from  the  State,  for  a  period  not  exceeding  four  years  in 
any  individual  case,  the  sum  of  $300  for  the  purpose  of  enabling  said 
student  (either  male  or  female)  to  defray  the  cost  of  tuition,  text- 
books, and  traveling  expenses. — [General  Court  of  1919,  S.  245.] 
Vocational  Reeducation  of  Disabled  Service  Men. 

House  bill  89  provides  an  appropriation  of  $2,500,000  for  the 
establishment  of  a  State  home  and  school  for  the  care  and  instruction 
of  crippled  and  disabled  or  partly  disabled  soldiers,  resident  of  the 
Commonwealth,  who  are  honorably  discharged  from  the  service  of 
the  United  States  after  participation  in  the  World  War. — [General 
Court  of  1919,  H.  89.] 

The  committee  on  ways  and  means  has  reported  favorably  in  the 
senate  on  a  bill  appropriating  $1,000  to  provide  for  an  investigation 
by  a  special  commission  of  the  question  of  training  disabled  soldiers 
and  sailors. — [Post,  Boston,  Mass.,  June  8, 1919.] 

In  accordance  with  section  2  of  the  Federal  vocational  rehabilita- 
tion act  of  June  27,  1918,  as  amended  July  11,  1919,  arrangements 
had  been  made  up  to  October  25,  1919,  by  the  Federal  Board  for 
Vocational  Education  with  68  educational  institutions  in  the  State 
for  the  reeducation  of  service  men  to  overcome  the  handicap  of  dis- 
abilities incurred  in  the  service.  A  total  of  982  such  men  have  been 
sent  to  these  institutions  for  training.  Arrangements  have  also 
been  made  by  this  board  with  61  industrial  establishments  in  the 
State  whereby  the  latter  have  undertaken  to  train  a  total  of  70  dis- 


MICHIGAN.  141 

abled  men. — [Compiled  from  statement  prepared  by  Rehabilitation 
Division,  Federal  Board  for  Vocational  Education.] 

The  War  Camp  Community  Service  assisted  the  representatives 
of  the  Federal  Board  for  Vocational  Education  in  Lowell  in  getting 
in  touch  with  men  suffering  with  some  form  of  disability,  in  order 
to  assist  them  in  taking  advantage  of  such  educational  opportunities 
as  the  Government  has  opened  to  them. — [Report  of  War  Camp 
Community  Service  for  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  August, 
1919.] 
Water  Resources. 

As  a  result  of  a  legislative  enactment,  a  special  State  commission 
has  been  appointed  to  make  a  survey  of  the  water  resources  of  the 
State,  with  the  view  of  developing  a  larger  supply  in  various  parts 
of  the  State. — [Christian  Science  Monitor,  Boston,  Mass.,  Oct.  25, 
1919.] 
Welfare  Commission. 

An  act  of  the  legislature  establishes  a  commission  for  the  benefit 
of  honorably  discharged  soldiers  and  sailors.  This  commission  is  to 
investigate  the  general  subject  of  lack  of  employment  for  men  who 
have  been  in  the  war  service,  obtain  employment  for  such  men,  take 
measures  to  induce  former  employers  to  hire  them,  and  provide 
means  of  support  for  them  and  their  dependents  if  they  are  unable 
to  work  or  get  work.  The  commission  consists  of  certain  State 
officials  and  four  other  citizens,  to  be  appointed  by  the  governor, 
and  serves  without  compensation. — [General  Acts  of  Massachusetts, 
1919,  ch.  125.] 

MICHIGAlSr. 

Americanization. 

The  various  women's  clubs  are  organizing  for  an  Americanization 
campaign  throughout  the  State. — [Memorandum  from  Americaniza- 
tion division,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  the  Interior  to  U.  S.  Council  of  Na- 
tional Defense,  July  23,  1919.] 

The  cky  of  Flint  is  undertaking  the  work  of  Americanization, 
and  a  committee  of  the  board  of  commerce  has  submitted  a  report 
showing  the  scope  of  its  work. — [Americanization,  U.  S.  Dept.  of 
the  Interior,  Mar.  1,  1919.] 

The  Jackson  federation  of  labor  has  ruled  that  hereafter  every 
man  who  desires  to  join  any  labor  union  in  that  city  must  first 
present  papers  showing  he  is  an  American  citizen  or  must  imme- 
diately file  a  petition  for  his  first  naturalization  papers  before  he 
will  be  accepted  to  membership.  A  poll  is  to  be  taken  of  the  mem- 
bership of  all  labor  unions  in  the  city  to  ascertain  the  number  of 
members  of  foreign  birth  who  are  not  naturalized.  All  who  have 
not  taken  out  their  first  papers  will  be  instructed  as  to  the  procedure 


142       UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  EECONSTRUCTION. 

necessary  and  will  be  advised  to  become  citizens  at  once. — [Christian 
Science  Monitor,  Boston,  Mass.,  June  3, 1919.] 

The  board  of  education  of  Ludington  has  appropriated  $100 
for  this  work.  There  is  an  enrollment  in  the  classes  in  citizenship 
of  56  members.  The  posters  issued  by  the  Government  are  used  to 
good  effect  in  the  factories  and  elsewhere. — [Compiled  from  forth- 
coming report  of  director  of  citizenship  to  Commissioner  of  Natu-, 
ralization,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor,  1920.] 
Assistance  for  Service  Men  and  Their  Families. 

The  problem  of  the  tubercular  soldier  will  be  met  through  the 
cooperation  of  the  Anti-Tuberculosis  Society  of  Grand  Eapids  and 
the  Civilian  Eelief  Department  of  the  American  Red  Cross.  Tho 
Michigan  War  Preparedness  Board  has  apjDropriated  $26,000  to 
build  a  sanatorium  to  care  for  these  men. — [Press,  Grand  Rapids, 
Mich.,  Feb.  20,  1919.] 

Legal  advisor}^  boards  have  been  organized  in  all  judicial  dis- 
tricts for  the  purpose  of  furnishing  free  advice  to  men  in  service 
and  their  families. — [Letter  from  the  governor  to  U.  S.  Council  of 
National  Def-ense,  Mar.  24,  1919.] 

The  Michigan  War  Preparedness  Board  has  authority,  out  of 
$5,000,000  appropriated  by  the  legislature,  to  furnish  the  dependents 
of  Michigan  soldiers  and  sailors  w^ith  the  relief  required  to  prevent 
their  lacking  funds  during  the  absence  of  the  men  in  the  United 
States  service. — [Letter  from  secretary,  Michigan  War  Preparedness 
Board  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  24,  1919.] 

By  act  of  the  legislature  the  sum  of  $75  will  be  provided  by  tho 
State  for  expenses  in  connection  with  the  burial  of  any  honorably 
discharged  soldier,  sailor,  or  marine  having  served  with  the  Army 
or  Navy  of  the  United  States  while  the  United  States  was  at  war, 
his  wife  or  widow,  or  of  any  Army  nurse  who  dies  possessed  of  an 
estate  not  exceeding  $1,500. —  [Public  Acts  of  Michigan,  1919,  No. 
165.] 

The  laws  of  the  State  have  been  amended  so  as  to  extend  to  dis- 
abled Michigan  veterans  of  the  World  War  who  are  without  means 
of  support,  the  privilege  of  admission  to  the  State  home  for  dis- 
abled soldiers,  sailors,  and  marines,  and  to  provide  relief,  outside 
of  the  soldiers'  home,  for  honorably  discharged  indigent  soldiers, 
sailors,  and  marines,  and  their  indigent  wives,  widows,  and  minor 
(  hildren.— [Public  Acts  of  Michigan,  1919,  Nos.  238;  370.] 

The  home-service  section  of  the  American  Red  Cross  in  Detroit  has 
established  a  soldiers'  and  sailors'  department  where  relief  of  all 
kinds  is  dispensed,  largely  given  in  the  form  of  loans.  Medical  and 
legal  assistance  is  also  given  through  this  department. — [Letter  from 
executive  secretary,  Detroit  Chapter  of  the  American  Red  Cross  to 
U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  26,  1919.] 


MICHIGAN.  143 

In  Detroit  an  alliance  between  the  war  veterans'  association  and  the 
federation  of  labor  has  been  formed.  Arrangements  w^ere  recently 
worked  out  for  close  cooperation  with  organized  labor  for  getting  in 
touch  with  and  assisting  returned  soldiers. — [Survey,  New  York, 
K  Y.,  Apr.  26,  1919.]  ^ 

"  Back-to-School "  Drive. 

The  "  Back-to-school  *'  drive  was  taken  up  in  some  localities.  Illus- 
trated lectures  were  given  by  one  county  school  commissioner.  In 
AYayne  County  prosecution  of  parents  keeping  children  from  school 
resulted  in  a  return  of  all  but  one  child.— [Eeport  of  child  conserva- 
tion section  of  the  Field  Division  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  De- 
fense, Oct.  1,  1918,  to  July  1,  1919.] 
Bar  Examinations  for  Service  Men. 

A  law,  approved  May  13,  provides  that  any  veteran  of  the  World 
War  enrolled  in  a  law  school  or  engaged  in  the  study  of  law  with  a 
preceptor,  who  had  filed  his  statement  and  affidavit  in  accordance 
with  the  law  prior  to  his  entrance  into  the  military  or  naval  service 
of  the  United  States,  and  who  possesses  the  required  qualifications 
shall  be  eligible  to  the  examination  for  admission  to  the  bar  upon 
presentation  of  a  certificate  from  the  law  school  stating  that  he  has 
completed  two  years  of  the  regular  course  of  study  in  the  school  or 
three  years  of  study  with  the  preceptor. — [Public  Acts  of  Michigan, 
1919,  No.  341.] 
Boys'  Working  Reserve. 

A  bill  has  been  passed  by  the  legislature  providing  for  the  con- 
tinuation of  the  United  States  Boys'  Working  Reserve.  The  bill 
appropriates  $5,000  for  each  of  the  next  two  fiscal  years  and  pro- 
vides for  the  continuance  of  the  work  of  this  State  organization  as  it 
was  during  war  times. — [Public  Acts  of  Michigan,  1919,  ch.  182.] 
Building  Activity. 

A  builders'  show  will  be  opened  shortly  in  Detroit,  which  will 
have  for  its  slogan  "  Build-now."  As  an  incentive  to  this  movement 
there  is  a  well-organized  campaign  under  way  for  hammering  down 
building  costs. — [Public  Ledger,  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  Apr.  18,  1919.] 
Community  Councils. 

At  a  conference  called  by  the  governor  at  Lansing  on  March  11 
and  12,  to  act  upon  the  report  of  the  State  reconstruction  commis- 
sion, 51  counties  w^ere  represented  by  one  or  more  members  of  their 
county  war  boards.  A  State  executive  committee  of  26  persons,  13 
men  and  13  women,  one  .from  each  congressional  district  in  Michi- 
gan, was  appointed  and  will  at  once  begin  the  work  of  transforming 
the  county  war  boards  of  the  State  into  community  councils.  This 
newly  elected  executive  committee  will  eventually  supplant  the  war 
board  and  continue  in  peace  time  the  work  of  furthering  social,  eco- 
nomic, and  industrial  reforms  that  have  been  suggested  by  war  con- 


144       UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

clitions.  The  war  board  and  the  State  division  of  the  Woman's 
Committee  will  nominate  the  men  and  women  who  are  to  organize 
the  community  council  in  their  county.  The  conference  asked  the 
legislature  to  appropriate  at  least  $10,000  for  the  work  of  this  State 
community  council  commission,  and  this  bill  is  already  in  the  hands 
of  the  ways  and  means  committee  of  the  house. — [Bulletin,  Carry 
On,  State  division  of  the  Woman's  Committee,  U.  S.  Council  of 
National  Defense,  Mar.  27,  1919.] 

An  act  was  passed  by  the  legislature  on  May  2  creating  the  Michi- 
gan Community  Council  Commission,  consisting  of  26  members,  half 
of  whom  are  to  be  women,  to  be  appointed  by  the  governor.  Among 
the  duties  of  this  commission  are :  To  investigate  problems  of  recon- 
struction and  matters  of  general  public  welfare;  to  recommend  ex- 
ecutive and  legislative  action;  to  aid  in  securing  employment  and" 
in  looking  after  the  welfare  of  soldiers ;  to  have  general  supervision 
over  county  community  boards.  The  act  also  provides  for  the  crea- 
tion of  a  county  community  board  in  each  county,  consisting  of  6,  8, 
or  10  members,  whose  duty  it  will  be,  among  other  things,  to  coop- 
erate with  the  State  commission  in  all  its  authorized  activities,  and 
to  promote  the  public  welfare  in  their  respective  counties  or  parts 
thereof.  The  county  boards  are  given  power  to  organize  or  pro- 
mote the  organization  of  community  councils,  in  such  form  and  of 
such  nature  as  they  may  determine,  wherever  in  their  judgment  the 
existence  of  such  councils  would  tend  to  promote  public  welfare. 
An  appropriation  of  $10,000  is  made  to  carry  out  the  purposes  of 
this  act.— [Public  Acts  of  Michigan,  1919,  Xo.  147.] 

The  State  division  of  the  Woman's  Committee,  United  States  Coun- 
cil of  National  Defense,  on  disbanding  May  22,  will  turn  over  its 
remaining  funds,  amounting  to  about  $1,500,  and  its  other  property 
to  the  State  community  council  commission. — [Letter  from  chair- 
man. State  division  of  the  Woman's  Committee  to  U.  S.  Council  ot 
National  Defense,  June  16,  1919.] 

The  State  community  council  commission  wishes  to  be  treated  by 
the  United  States  Council  of  National  Defense  in  the  future  as  if  it 
were  a  State  council  of  defense.  The  war  preparedness  board,  though 
nominally  in  existence,  is  dissolving.  Organizations  are  being  built 
up  in  most  instances  to  succeed  county  war  preparedness  organiza- 
tions. The  community  councils  as  organized  will  be  practically  new 
organizations.  They  are  securing  jobs  for  returning  soldiers  through 
the  American  Legion  and  are  coordinating  reconstruction  activities 
in  Michigan. — [Reply  from  State  council  of  defense  to  question- 
naire of  the  Field  Division,  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
June  26,  1919.] 


MICHIGAN.  145 

Community  Houses. 

The  State  reconstruction  commission  has  recommended  that  in 
every  county  and  community  willing  to  bear  the  expense,  the  pro- 
posed memorials  to  the  soldiers  and  sailors  who  served  in  the  World 
War  be  in  the  form  of  permanent  community  houses  for  public  use. 
It  is  proposed  that  these  buildings  become  public  clubhouses  with 
gymnasiums,  etc.,  where  all  classes  of  a  community  may  meet  on 
equal  footing  and  for  any  purpose,  although  primarily  they  would 
be  for  the  soldiers  and  sailors. — [Free  Press,  Detroit,  Mich.,  Mar. 
10,  1919.] 

Cooperation  for  Price  "Reduction. 

About  600  merchants  of  Flint  have  met  and  agreed  to  cut  prices 
on  food,  clothing,  and  other  necessities  of  life  to  the  point  where 
they  will  be  able  to  realize  only  a  moderate  profit.  The  landlords 
of  Flint  have  also  met  and  agreed  to  reduce  rents  15  per  cent 
for  the  same  purpose.  The  experiment  will  be  conducted  for  a 
period  of  90  days,  at  the  expiration  of  which  time  the  agreements 
can  be  renewed  if  it  is  found  desirable. — [Post,  Washington,  D.  C, 
Dec.  30,  1918.] 

Education  of  Returned  Service  Men. 

Returning  soldiers  who  desire  to  enter  college  but  are  lacking  in  a 
few  required  credits  are  to  be  cared  for  by  the  Michigan  Agricul- 
tural College.  Preparatory  courses  of  six  months  and  of  one  year 
have  been  provided  in  the  college  for  the  purpose  of  bringing  sol- 
diers, sailors,  and  marines  up  to  collegiate  standing.  It  is  pointed 
out  that  these  preparatory  courses  will  result  in  many  men  con- 
tinuing their  education  who  would  otherwise  drop  out  if  required 
to  return  to  high  schools. — [State  Journal,  Lansing,  Mich.,  Feb.  19, 
1919.] 

A  bill  has  been  introduced  in  the  State  legislature  which,  if 
enacted,  will  enable  discharged  soldiers  to  secure  an  education  with- 
out paying  tuition  fees.  It  is  proposed  that  any  person  who  en- 
tered the  service  of  the  United  States  in  the  Army  or  Navy  and  was 
a  resident  of  Michigan  at  the  time  of  his  entrance  and  has  been 
honorably  discharged,  shall  be  exempted  from  payment  of  any  ma- 
triculation, tuition,  or  diploma  fee  regularly  charged  in  connection 
with  special  or  postgraduate  work  at  the  University  of  Michigan, 
Michigan  Agricultural  College,  or  at  any  school  ,or  college  main- 
tained wholly  or  in  part  by  the  State.  It  provides  that  such  per- 
sons shall  meet  all  other  entrance  requirements  of  the  institution 
which  he  enters.  Application  for  this  exemption  must  be  accom- 
panied by  an  affidavit  of  the  applicant,  setting  forth  the  facts  of 
his  entrance  into  the  service,  together  with  a  copy  of  the  certificate 
184286°— 20 10 


146        UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

of  service  or  of  an  honorable  discharge. — [State  Journal,  Lansing, 
Mich.,  Mar.  14,  1919.] 

The  Michigan  Agricultural  College,  from  April  1,  1919,  to  April 
1,  1920,  will  waive  regulations  requiring  matriculants  to  be  gradu- 
ates of  high  schools. — [Letter  from  the  governor  to  U.  S.  Council  of 
National  Defense,  Mar.  24,  1919.] 
Employment. 

Michigan  in  1919  will  spend  approximately  $100,000,000  on  build- 
ing construction  and  State  highways,  affording  work  to  from  twenty 
to  twenty-five  thousand  returned  soldiers  on  buildings  and  from  six 
to  eight  thousand  on  State  highways,  according  to  estimates  of  high- 
way and  building- trade  officials.  The  entire  program  is  mapped 
out  principally  with  the  idea  that  the  soldiers  may  find  employment 
with  adequate  remuneration  awaiting  them  as  fast  as  they  are  ready 
for  work. — [Enquirer,  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  Dec.  31,  1918.] 

The  governor  will  address  letters  to  the  various  county  war  boards 
asking  them  to  make  ready  places  for  discharged  service  men  as  fast 
as  they  arrive. — [Press,  Grand  Kapids,  Mich.,  Jan.  2,  1919.] 

Through  the  county  war  boards  maintained  in  each  county  of  the 
State,  the  Michigan  War  Preparedness  Board  supervises  the  matter 
of  providing  returned  soldiers  with  work. — [Letter  from  secretary, 
Michigan  War  Preparedness  Board  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National 
Defense,  Mar.  24,  1919.] 

State  employment  bureaus  have  been  established  in  principal 
cities  for  the  benefit  of  returned  men.  Factories  are  giving  prefer- 
ence to  returned  soldiers  and  sailors  in  employing  help. — [Letter 
from  the  governor  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar,  24, 
1919.] 

Advantage  is  being  taken  of  the  opportunities  for  placement  of  re- 
turned soldiers  and  sailors  offered  by  the  Federal  employment  bureaus 
in  the  cities  and  by  civilian  committees  in  the  rural  communities. 
The  change  which  is  coming  because  of  the  temporary  lack  of  sup- 
port for  the  Federal  bureaus  will  probably  shift  the  financing  of 
these  bureaus  to  the  American  Red  Cross  or  to  local  funds  raised 
for  the  purpose.  The  same  method  of  handling  placements  will 
probably  continue. — [Letter  from  executive  secretary,  Detroit  Chap- 
ter, American  Red  Cross  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar. 
26,  1919.] 

Employment  cfffices  maintained  in  Michigan  by  the  Federal  Gov- 
ernment in  cooperation  with  State  and  local  organizations  report 
that  during  the  six  months'  period  from  January  1  to  June  30,  1919, 
108,967  persons  were  -registered  who  were  seeking  employment; 
151,082  requests  for  employees  were  received;  and  54,246  persons 
were  placed  by  these  offices. — [Compiled  from  statistics  furnished  by 
U.  S.  Employment  Service,  Aug.  8,  1919.] 


MICHIGAN.  147 

The  War  and  Navy  Departments'  citation  has  been  issued  to  1,039 
firms  in  Michigan,  these  employers  having  assured  the  War  and 
Navy  Departments  that  they  will  reemploy  everybody  who  formerly 
worked  with  them  and  left  to  serve  in  the  Army  and  Navy  during 
the  World  War. — [Memorandum  from  assistant  to  the  Secretary  of 
War  in  the  replacement  of  service  men  to  civil  life,  to  U.  S.  Council 
of  National  Defense,  Nov.  20,  1919.] 

With  large  automobile-manufacturing  concerns  advertising  in  the 
larger  eastern  cities  for  labor  to  man  their  plants  in  Detroit,  Pontiac, 
and  elsewhere  in  Michigan,  the  board  of  commerce  has  sent  out  a 
call  for  demobilized  soldiers  to  come  to  Detroit.  Some  weeks  ago 
the  board  of  commerce  sent  out  notices  warning  returned  fighters  of 
a  scarcity  of  jobs  in  Detroit.  The  conditions  are  now  reversed. — 
[Times,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Apr.  23,  1919.] 

The  Detroit  federation  of  labor  has  adopted  resolutions  favoring 
the  finding  of  employment  for  returning  soldiers.  The  local  pattern- 
makers' union  will  admit  returned  soldiers  to  membership  without 
charge.  Nearly  all  Michigan  concerns,  especially  the  local  automo- 
bile plants  and  the  copper  and  iron  mines  of  the  Upper  Peninsula, 
are  offering  former  employees  their  old  places  on  their  return  from 
the  service. — [Journal,  Peoria,  111.,  Dec.  13,  1918.] 

Allied  veterans  of  the  Army  have  opened  in  Detroit  an  employ- 
ment office  for  returned  soldiers.  Employers  have  been  urged  to 
keep  in  touch  with  the  office. — [Free  Press,  Detroit,  Mich.,  Feb.  14, 
1919.] 

The  city  council  has  unanimously  adopted  resolutions  drawn  by 
the  mayor  of  Detroit  in  which  the  rationing  of  wages  and  employ- 
ment is  urged.  The  resolutions  call  upon  employers  to  ration  work 
among  returned  soldiers  and  to  replace  resident  aliens  who  claimed 
exemption  from  the  draft  with  men  honorably  discharged  from  the 
service.  The  resolutions  do  not  purpose  that  wages  shall  be  lessened, 
but  that  the  hours  of  work  be  apportioned  among  workers. — [Chris- 
tian Science  Monitor,  Boston,  Mass.,  Feb.  26,  1919.] 

The  Detroit  Board  of  Commerce  has  assumed  the  financing  of  the 
soldiers'  and  sailors'  employment  bureau,  with  the  intention  of  keep- 
ing it  in  operation  until  at  least  July  1,  1919.  This  action  was  made 
necessary  because  of  the  lack  of  sufficient  funds  to  carry  on  the 
Federal  employment  service.  The  bureau  has  the  cooperation  of 
all  civic  organizations,  American  Red  Cross,  Young  Men's  Christian 
Association,  Knights  of  Columbus,  United  Jewish  Charities,  and 
the  War  Camp  Community  Service. — [Publication  of  the  Detroit 
Board  of  Commerce,  Mar.  17,  1919.] 

The  matter  of  obtaining  employment  for  returning  soldiers  is  well 
in  hand  in  Detroit  at  the  present  time. — [Letter  from  mayor  of 
Detroit  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  17,  1919.] 


148       UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

Grand  Rapids  has  appointed  a  citizens'  conniiittee  to  aid  returning 
soldiers.  This  committee  has  established  an  office  for  the  registra- 
tion of  soldiers,  through  which  soldiers  are  communicated  with  in 
advance  as  to  their  wishes  for  their  old  jobs.  The  soldier  is  asked 
the  name  of  his  former  employer,  the  sort  of  work  he  formerly  did, 
whether  he  wishes  the  same  work  again  or  some  other  work,  and 
like  information.  The  committee  transmits  this  information  to  the 
employer  and  endeavors  to  have  the  job  ready  and  waiting  for  the 
soldier  as  soon  as  he  enters  the  city. — [Press,  Grand  Rapids,  Mich., 
Feb.  4,  1919.] 

A  soldiers'  and  sailors'  welfare  committee  of  the  Jackson  Chamber 
of  Commerce  is  active  in  securing  positions  for  men  who  have  i^- 
turned  from  service  in  the  Army.  Signs  advising  every  Jackson 
County  soldier  that  he  may  be  assured  of  a  position  as  good  as  the 
one  he  held  at  the  time  of  his  departure  have  been  placed  in  the 
railroad  stations.  The  manufacturers  of  the  city  are  cooperating 
with  the  committee  by  offering  positions  to  men  who  left  their  con- 
cerns to  go  into  the  service.  The  committee  has  been  able  so  far  to 
establish  a  connection  for  every  soldier  and  sailor  who  has  asked 
its  help,  and  it  is  felt  that  every  man  who  entered  the  service  from 
this  locality  will  be  able  to  secure  work. — [Publication  of  the  Jack- 
son Chamber  of  Commerce,  January,  1919.] 

English  Language  In  Schools. 

Senate  bill  108,  pending  before  the  State  legislature,  would  re- 
quire that  all  schools  of  elementary  grade  in  the  State  be  conducted 
in  the  English  language. — [School  Life,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  the  Interior, 
Mar.  16,  1919.]       . 
Food  Production. 

A  milk  commission,  composed  of  the  State  food  and  drug  commis- 
sioner as  chairman,  the  State  market  director,  the  professor  of  dairy- 
ing at  Michigan  Agricultural  College,  and  two  other  members  ap- 
pointed by  the  governor  for  two  years,  is  provided  for  in  a  bill 
introduced  in  the  house.  The  conunission  would  conduct  a  thorough 
investigation  of  the  cost  of  producing  and  distributing  milk,  cheese, 
butter,  ice  cream,  and  other  dairy  products,  and  would  act  as  media- 
tor in  case  of  a  dispute  between  manufacturer  and  producer  and  fix  a 
price. — [Free  Press,  Detroit,  Mich.,  Mar.  12,  1919.] 
Highways. 

The  State  is  preparing  for  construction  work  under  the  new 
$50,000,000  bond  issue  authorized  by  the  voters  April  7.  To  date, 
the  counties  have  awarded  contracts  for  more  than  500,000  square 
yards  of  concrete  highway.  Kalamazoo  County  awarded  a  contract 
for  5^  miles  of  concrete  highway,  16  feet  wide,  near  Kalamazoo. 
This  improvement  will  be  on  the  line  of  the  main  road  from  Chicago 


MICHIGAN.  149 

to  Detroit  now  being  paved  by  the  counties  through  which  the  road 
passes. — [Public  Ledger,  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  May  8,  1919.] 

On  October  1,  1919,  30  highway  projects  had  been  approved  in  the 
State,  involving  the  improvements  of  233.41  miles  of  road  at  a  total 
estimated  cost  of  $3,153,875.76,  of  which  the  Federal  Government  is 
requested  to  pay  $1,454,877.18  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of 
the  Federal-aid  road  act  of  July  11,  1916,  as  amended  by  the  act  of 
February  28,  1919. — [Statement  prepared  by  Bureau  of  Public  Roads, 
U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture.] 
Housing  Accommodations. 

The  Detroit  housing  corporation  is  completing  the  organization  of 
a  separate  $1,000,000  corporation  which  will  build  homes  for  work- 
ingmen  of  Detroit  at  a  minimum  cost.  It  is  hoped  to  enlist  the  aid 
of  every  merchant  and  manufacturer  of  the  city  in  the  project,  with 
a  view  of  not  only  solving  the  city's  housing  problem  but  of  making 
the  "  Build-now  "  campaign  a  reality.  In  making  known  the  plans 
of  the  organization,  it  was  announced  that  present  building  opera- 
tions will  be  greatly  stimulated  and  that  all  building  material  dealers 
will  be  given  an  opportunity  to  furnish  large  quantities  of  building 
supplies. — [Publication  of  the  Detroit  Board  of  Commerce,  Apr.  7, 
1919.] 

Plans  are  to  be  perfected  in  Detroit  for  the  organization  of  a 
great  home-building  campaign.  Manufacturers,  financiers,  and 
philanthropists  will  consider  the  suggestion  to  start  immediately  on 
the  construction  of  not  less  than  $5,000,000  worth  of  homes,  these 
homes  to  be  sold  on  the  installment  plan.  This  action  is  to  be  taken 
with  the  hope  of  relieving  to  some  extent  the  housing  situation,  as 
Detroit  is  at  least  30,000  homes  short,  with  the  influx  of  newcomers 
continuing. — [Public  Ledger,  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  Apr.  24,  1919.] 

A  motor  manufacturing  company  has  taken  over  a  plat  of  ground 
at  Flint  and  is  to  spend  $6,000,000  before  December  1,  1919,  putting 
up  1,000  houses  for  the  employees  of  the  company. — [Housing  Better- 
ment, New  York,  N.  Y.,  June,  1919.] 
Information  Service  for  Returned  Service  Men. 

The  local  branches  of  the  American  Eed  Cross  are  cooperating 
with  other  organizations  in  establishing  contacts  with  service  men 
for  the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  adjustment  of  their  allotments, 
allowance  accounts,  compensation  and  claims,  and  the  reinstatement 
of  lapsed  or  canceled  insurance.  It  is  the  desire  of  the  Bureau  of 
War  Eisk  Insurance  that  all  inquiries  of  this  nature  be  cleared 
through  the  home-service  sections  of  the  American  Ked  Cross.  Up 
to  April  1, 1919,  the  American  Red  Cross  had  organized  in  Michigan 
399  units  with  a  total  of  552  workers. — [Statement  prepared  by 
American  National  Red  Cross  for  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
November,  1919.] 


150        UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

Land  Settlement. 

The  governor  appointed  a  State  reconstruction  commission  of  22 
members  "to  formulate  a  general  land-settlement  policy  for  our 
returning  soldiers,  sailors,  and  marines,  and  also  for  our  industrial 
workers."  This  commission  in  its  report  of  March  11,  1919,  indorsed 
the  soldier-settlement  plan  of  the  United  States  Department  of  the 
Interior,  recommended  that  the  State  cooperate  with  this  depart- 
ment in  providing  farms  for  returned  soldiers  and  others  desiring 
land.  A  special  committee  of  the  commission  later  reported  that 
adequate  laws  were  now  in  force  to  carry  into  effect  the  duties  of  a 
land-settlement  policy  for  the  State  of  Michigan  in  harmony  with 
the  general  suggestion  in  the  report. — [Letter  from  the  governor  to 
U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  24, 1919.] 

The  west  and  east  Michigan  development  bureaus  are  cooperating 
with  the  Secretary  of  the  Interior  in  the  settlement  of  soldiers  on 
lands  in  the  State,  according  to  the  Chief  Engineer  of  the  United 
States  Reclamation  Service,  who  has  been  in  Michigan  on  a  tour  of 
inspection.  He  stated  that  there  are  about  4,000,000  acres  of  avail- 
able lands  in  the  State  which  may  be  purchased  by  soldiers  from  the 
Government  on  easy  terms  at  from  $5  to  $15  per  acre,  and  that  mucli 
of  this  is  excellent  agricultural  land. — [Press,  Grand  Rapids,  Mich., 
Apr.  1,  1919.] 
Loans  to  Service  Men. 

A  concurrent  resolution  was  adopted  by  the  house,  calling  upon 
the  Michigan  War  PreparednCvSs  Board  to  loan  from  the  State  war 
fund  to  each  returning  soldier  who  is  in  need  of  temporary  financial 
aid  a  sum  not  to  exceed  $50. — [Times-Tribune,  Bay  City,  Mich., 
Jan.  31,  1919.] 

Among  the  bills  introduced  into  the  State  legislature  is  a  resolu- 
tion calling  upon  the  State  war  preparedness  board  to  loan  money 
to  soldiers  to  pay  the  premium  on  the  war  insurance  they  carry. — 
[Herald,  Grand  Rapids,  Mich.,  Mar.  7,  1919.] 

Motor  Transport  Service. 

Members  of  the  executive  committee  appointed  by  the  governor 
to  arrange  for  establishing  rural  motor-truck  routes  in  counties  of 
the  State,  met  and  adopted  a  resolution  favoring  the  senate  bill  for 
amending  the  State  constitution  to  allow  State  appropriations  for 
good  roads,  and  appointed  chairmen  for  the  different  counties. — - 
[Automobile  Topics,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  22,  1919.] 
Preference  to  Returned  Service  Men  in  Public  Employment. 

A  law,  approved  May  12,  provides  that  in  every  public  depart- 
ment and  upon  the  public  works  of  the  State  and  of  every  county 
and  municipal  corporation  thereof,  honorably  discharged  war  vet- 
erans of  the  United  States  shall  be  preferred  for  appointment  and 


MICHIGAIT.  151 

employment,  and  that  such  veterans  shall  not  be  removed  or  sus- 
pended except  after  a  full  hearing  before  the  circuit  court  of  the 
county  in  which  they  are  employed. — [Public  Acts  of  Michigan, 
1919,  ch.  224.] 
Public  Works. 

The  reconstruction  conference  has  reconmiended  early  construc- 
tion of  needed  public  works  for  the  purpose  of  providing  employ- 
mcnt  opportunifies. — [Letter  from  the  governor  to  U.  S.  Council  of 
National  Defense,  Mar.  24,  1919.] 

Reports  received  in  January,  1919,  cover  153  public  building  and 
construction  projects  which  were  under  way  or  contemplated  in  the 
State,  aggregating  an  estimated  value  of  $98,280,000.  Of  this  num- 
ber 60  were  street  improvements,  estimated  to  cost  $21,065,000;  20 
were  waterworks,  estimated  to  cost  $27,455,000;  15  were  sewers,  esti- 
mated to  cost  $4,495,000 ;  and  13  were  schools,  estimated  to  cost  $12,- 
400,000. — [Statistics  compiled  by  Division  of  Public  Works  and 
Construction  Developments,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor,  Apr.  17,  1919.] 

Eeconstruction  Commission. 

In  the  report  of  the  State  reconstruction  commission  which  was  re- 
cently submitted,  emphasis  is  laid  upon  three  chief  principles :  First, 
the  application  of  justice  in  order  to  avoid  a  receptive  state  of  mind 
for  Bolshevist  propaganda ;  second,  the  problem  of  safety  to  be  met 
through  the  education  of  illiterate  people  and  through  Americaniza- 
tion efforts;  and  third,  the  application  of  the  principles  of  efficiency 
practiced  during  the  war.  Certain  problems  requiring  immediate 
action  are  enumerated,  including  the  establishment  of  a  permanent 
State-wide  organization  to  deal  with  civic  questions,  the  welfare  of 
men  discharged  from  the  naval  service,  and  the  condition  in  the  field 
of  industry  caused  by  the  war  and  by  the  return  of  men  to  civil  life. 
In  order  to  effect  State-wide  community  organization,  it  is  recom- 
mended that  the  Michigan  War  Preparedness  Board,  together  with 
its  various  county  and  community  units,  be  continued  permanently 
under  legislative  authority.  For  the  welfare  of  returned  soldiers 
it  is  recommended  that  a  State  employment  service  be  organized, 
that  public  works  be  commenced,  that  the  State  cooperate  with  the 
Federal  Government  in  promoting  the  settlement  of  men  upon  farms, 
and  that  the  legal  rights  of  the  men  in  the  service  be  protected. 
Further  recommendations  include  economy  and  conservation  in  the 
use  of  foodstuffs,  reduction  to  a  minimum  of  fire  losses,  cultivation 
of  habits  of  thrift,  and  closer  federation  of  agencies  handling  mat- 
ters pertaining  to  community  well-being.  The  establishment  of  State 
employment  facilities  for  taking  care  of  the  placement  of  returned 
soldiers  is  suggested. 

With  the  view  of  meeting  the  permanent  employment  problem  of 
the  State,  the  board  recommends  that  through  some  generally  estab- 


152        UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

lished  body  with  State  authority  and  of  a  permanent  nature,  a  sur- 
vey be  made  of  the  industries  of  Michigan  with  the  object:  First, 
that  casual  employment  might  be  lessened ;  and  second,  that  the  State 
might  become  self-supporting  as  to  labor  supply,  so  that  there  would 
not  periodically  be  large  importations  of  workers  in  the  State  only 
to  become  unemployed  at  a  later  date.  A  program  of  home  building 
is  also  urged.  The  committee  further  recommends  that  there  be 
established  by  law  an  industrial  relations  commission  composed  of 
at  least  seven  members,  the  duty  of  which  shall  be  to  ascertain  what 
conditions  call  for  remedy  and  to  recommend  to  the  legislature  such 
laws  or  policies  as  seem  advisable  to  promote  industrial  peace  and 
justice. 

Cooperative  effort  among  farmers  to  market  their  products  is  sug- 
gested as  a  means  of  solving  this  farm  problem.  The  report  states 
that  a  great  advance  can  be  made  by  investigating  and  ascertaining 
farm  production  costs,  distributing  information  thus  obtained, 
awakening  interest  of  the  farmers  to  its  vital  importance,  and 
incidentally  promoting  the  more  general  use  of  proper  accounting 
methods. 

In  conclusion,  the  committee  approves  the  system  of  State  trunk 
highways  now  contemplated,  and  recommends  that  in  the  meantime 
steps  be  taken  to  encourage  rural  express  lines  and  to  establish  re- 
turn-load bureaus  to  increase  the  economy  and  efficiency  of  such 
transportation. — [Report  of  Michigan  Reconstruction  Commission, 
Mar.  11,  1919.] 

Reconstruction  Conference. 

A  reconstruction  conference  is  being  held,  at  which  the  sentiment 
is  that  the  problems  of  unemployment  and  industrial  discontent  can 
be  solved  only  through  sincere  and  basic  reforms.  The  report  of  the 
State  reconstruction  commission  was  adopted  by  the  conference  with- 
out dissent. — [News,  Saginaw,  Mich.,  Mar.  12, 1919.] 

iReconstruction  Problems. 

At  the  twenty-fourth  annual  meeting  of  the  State  federation  of 
women's  clubs,  to  be  held  at  Battle  Creek,  February  12  to  20,  Michi- 
gan women,  newly  enfranchised,  will  study  practical  reconstruction 
problems,  including  Americanization,  industrial  and  social  condi- 
tions, conservation,  parliamentary  usage,  legislative  ambitions,  civil 
service,  corrections  and  charities,  education,  and  kindred  topics.^ 
[Free  Press,  Detroit,  Mich.,  Feb.  10,  1919.] 

Registration  of  Discharge  Papers. 

Under  an  act,  approved  May  12,  county  clerks  are  required  to 
record  the  discharges  of  soldiers,  sailors,  and  marines,  and  nurses. — 
[Public  Acts  of  Michigan,  1919,  No.  243.] 


MICHIGAN,  153 

School  Gardens. 

School  gardens  are  being  conducted  in  78  cities  and  towns,  the 
total  present  enrollment  in  the  State  being  66,020. — [Prepared  from 
material  furnished  by  U.  S.  School  Garden  Army  to  U.  S.  Council 
of  National  Defense,  Nov.  1, 1919.] 
Tax  Exemption  for  Service  Men. 

Two  bills  were  introduced  in  the  legislature  on  its  opening  day 
dealing  with  soldiers  to  prevent  the  sale  of  their  property  for 
taxes. — [Forum- Advocate,  Wells,  Minn.,  Jan.  23,  1919.] 

An  act,  approved  May  12,  provides  that  upon  request  transcripts, 
under  seal,  of  an}^  records  of  the  offices  of  the  secretary  of  state,  ad- 
jutant general,  judges  of  probate,  county  clerks,  and  justices  of  the 
peace  pertaining  to  pensions,  insurance  payments,  or  annuities  shall, 
without  charge  or  fee  therefor,  be  issued  to  soldiers,  sailors,  and 
marines  of  the  several  wars  of  the  United  States,  and  to  their 
widows  or  other  dependents. —  [Public  Acts  of  Michigan,  1919,  No. 
874.] 
Vocational  Reeducation  of  Disabled  Serviee  H«n. 

The  entire  machinery  of  the  State  war  preparedness  board  and 
various  county  war  boards  will  be  utilized  to  canvass  the  industrial 
institutions  of  Michigan  to  interest  employers  in  the  Government's 
plan  of  vocational  education  for  crippled  soldiers.  Various  cham- 
bers of  commerce  in  the  State  will  be  urged  to  cooperate  also. — 
[Free  Press,  Detroit,  Mich.,  Mar.  12,  1919.] 

The  Michigan  War  Preparedness  Board  will  see  that  all  disabled 
soldiers  returning  to  the  State  are  enabled  to  secure  the  necessary 
vocational  education  to  fit  them  to  maintain  themselves. — [Letter 
from  secretary,  Michigan  War  Preparedness  Board  to  U.  S.  Council 
of  National  Defense,  Mar.  24,  1919.] 

County  war  boards  will  endeavor  to  see  that  disabled  men  take 
advantage  of  the  vocational  retraining  provided  by  the  Govern- 
ment.— [Letter  from  the  governor  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  De- 
fense, Mar.  24,  1919.] 

In  accordance  with  section  2  of  the  Federal  vocational  rehabilita- 
tion act  of  June  27,  1918,  as  amended  July  11,  1919,  arrangements 
had  been  made  up  to  October  25,  1919,  by  the  Federal  Board  for 
Vocational  Education  with  18  educational  institutions  in  the  State 
for  the  reeducation  of  service  men  to  overcome  the  handicap  of  dis- 
abilities incurred  in  the  service.  A  total  of  235  such  men  have  been 
sent  to  these  institutions  for  training.  Arrangements  have  also 
been  made  by  this  board  with  six  industrial  establishments  in  the 
State  whereby  the  latter  have  undertaken  to  train  a  total  of  six  dis- 
abled men. — [Compiled  from  statement  prepared  by  Rehabilitation 
Division,  Federal  Board  for  Vocational  Education.] 


154       UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

"Welfare  of  Returned  Service  Men. 

The  Michigan  War  Preparedness  Board  has  established  a  bureau 
for  Michigan  soldiers  and  sailors  at  36  West  Fortieth  Street,  New 
York  City.  This  bureau  is  established  for  the  purpose  of  enabling 
Michigan  soldiers  and  sailors  to  have  a  club  in  New  York  City, 
where  they  may  meet  to  read  the  home  papers,  make  engagements 
with  their  friends  in  and  out  of  the  service,  write  letters,  or  enjoy 
themselves  for  an  hour  or  two. — [Letter  from  secretary,  Michigan 
War  Preparedness  Board  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
Mar.  24,  1919.] 

Woman's  Committee. 

The  East  Lansing  unit  of  the  State  division  of  the  Woman's  Com- 
mittee, United  States  Council  of  National  Defense,  has  become  the 
East  Lansing  Civic  League,  and  will  seek  to  use  its  influence  on  city 
politics,  particularly  with  regard  to  the  administration  of  the  public 
schools. — [Free  Press,  Detroit,  Mich.,  Jan.  31,  1919.] 

MINNESOTA. 

Americanization. 

The  legislature  has  before  it  a  bill  to  provide  for  the  appoint- 
ment by  the  governor  of  a  commission  of  nine  members  for  the  pur- 
pose of  promoting  Americanization  throughout  the  State.  The  func- 
tion of  this  commission  is  to  promote  and  encourage  patriotic  and 
civic  education  among  the  people  of  the  State;  to  promote  and  en- 
courage Americanization ;  to  assist  in  the  organization  of  community 
councils  and  community  centers,  in  which  patriotic  and  civic  educa- 
tion and  service  shall  play  a  prominent  part;  to  publish  and  dis- 
seminate literature  on  civic  and  patriotic  subjects;  to  promote  and 
encourage  evening  and  day  classes  for  the  teaching  of  civic  and 
patriotic  subjects ;  and  to  promote  and  encourage  the  proper  observ- 
ance of  patriotic  occasions. — [Reply  from  State  division  of  the 
Woman's  Committee,  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense  to  ques- 
tionnaire of  committee  of  representatives  from  State  divisions,  Feb. 
13,  1919.] 

An  Americanization  survey  was  made  by  the  State  division  of  the 
Woman's  Committee,  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  for  the 
State  Americanization  committee,  the  State  department  of  educa- 
tion, and  the  public  library. — [Report  of  State  division  of  the 
Woman's  Committee  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  March, 
1919.] 

The  woman's  committee  of  the  commission  of  public  safety  is 
carrying  the  work  of  Americanization  into  the  lives  of  18  different 
races  living  within  the  State.  The  creation  of  a  friendly  feeling 
among  these  people  is  used  as  an  opening  for  their  education. — 
[Americanization,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  the  Interior,  Mar.  1, 1919.] 


MINNESOTA.  165 

The  Minnesota  Bar  Association  is  preparing  to  take  an  active  part 
in  Americanization  work  throughout  the  State.  The  executive  board 
of  the  association's  Americanization  committee  has  voted  to  extend 
the  committee  organization  into  every  county  of  the  State  and  to 
cooperate  with  other  agencies  interested  in  Americanizing  the 
foreigner.  Support  of  a  bill  to  make  English  the  basic  language  of 
instruction  in  schools,  and  of  bills  prohibiting  the  publication  of 
local  newspapers  in  foreign  languages,  was  voted  by  the  committee. — 
[Law  Notes,  Northport,  N.  Y.,  April,  1919.] 

Much  good  Amercanization  work  is  being  done  through  the 
Minnesota  University  and  local  organizations. — [Memorandum  from 
Americanization  division,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  the  Interior  to  U.  S.  Coun- 
cil of  National  Defense,  July  23,  1919.] 

Very  effective  work  is  being  done  in  connection  with  the  night 
schools  and  the  Americanization  program  in  the  city  of  Minneapolis 
under  the  auspices  of  the  board  of  education  and  the  Americaniza- 
tion committee.  In  addition  to  the  classes  in  the  school  buildings, 
classes  have  also  been  formed  in  the  factories  and  in  the  barns  of  the 
street  railway  system. — [Compiled  from  forthcoming  report  of 
director  of  citizenship  to  Commissioner  of  Naturalization,  TJ.  S. 
Dept.  of  Labor,  1920.] 

In  Duluth  a  large  general  committee  of  men  and  women  has  been 
doing  very  effective  work  in  Americanization.  Subcommittees  are 
at  work  on  finance,  publicity,  cooperation  with  employers,  educa- 
tion, naturalization,  and  social  needs,  with  a  foreigner  on  each 
committee  to  work  among  his  people.  Clubs  are  also  being  formed. 
About  1,400  foreigners  are  in  the  night  schools,  which  give  a  fine 
course  in  citizenship.  A  survey  is  now  being  made  of  the  aliens. — 
[Minnesota  in  the  War,  St.  Paul,  Minn.,  Feb.  15,  1919.] 

From  Kettle  River  the  superintendent  reports  that  a  school  is 
being  conducted,  with  marked  success,  to  educate  the  foreigners.  The 
cost  of  maintaining  this  school  is  met  by  the  school  board. — [Com- 
piled from  forthcoming  report  of  director  of  citizenship  to  Com- 
missioner of  Naturalization,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor,  1920.] 

November  15,  1919,  the  chairman  of  the  Americanization  work 
for  the  Minneapolis  division  of  the  Woman's  Committee,  United 
States  Council  of  National  Defense,  called  together  representatives 
of  every  group  in  the  city  giving  service  to  foreigners.  Leading  men 
and  women  of  18  races  were  present,  representing  employers  of  for- 
eigners, public  and  private  organizations,  foreign  churches,  the  press, 
labor,  the  Young  Men's  and  Young  Women's  Christian  Associations, 
and  State  and  Federal  officials.    A  central  citizens'  committee  was 


156       UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

established  with  an  executive  board  of  11  members,  which  held  four 
large  meetings  during  the  year  to  discuss  policies,  plans,  and  division 
of  work. — [Report  of  chairman,  Minneapolis  division  of  the 
Woman's  Committee  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  ^pr.  23, 
1919.] 

An  Americanization  survey  is  being  conducted  by  the  women's 
division  of  Ramsey  County.  It  is  also  conducing  an  Ajnericanization 
campaign.  Methods  employed  in  the  campaign  include :  Urging  the 
importance  of,  and  furnishing  opportunities  for  learning  the  Eng- 
lish language;  publication  and  dissemination  by  other  methods,  of 
information  relative  to  American  institutions,  the  rights  and  privil- 
eges of  American  residents  and  citizens,  the  method  of  obtaining 
citizenship,  etc.;  publication  and  dissemination  of  information  rela- 
tive to  various  welfare  agencies,  public  offices,  educational  institu- 
tions, libraries,  etc.,  in  St.  Paul;  placing  at  strategic  points  schools, 
churches,  libraries,  playgrounds,  etc.;  forming  local  improvement 
committees;  holding  patriotic  meetings;  and  holding  exhibits  of 
arts  and  crafts  of  various  foreign  nationalities  with  a  view  to  making 
the  work  of  the  foreigners  known  to  themselves.  The  Americaniza- 
tion survey  will  include  data  on  the  proportion  of  alien  population 
in  St.  Paul,  and  the  proportion  who  have  applied  for  naturalization 
papers;  societies,  lodges,  and  other  organizations  maintained  by 
foreign  elements ;  types  of  literature  used ;  relation  of  public  schools 
to  foreign  population  in  their  respective  districts;  and  studies  of 
nationalities  and  of  important  industrial  plants  employing  foreign- 
ers.— [Report  of  secretary,  women's  division  of  Ramsey  County  to 
U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Apr.  3,  1919.] 
"  Back-to-Scliool "  Drive. 

The  "  Back-to-school "  drive  was  a  great  success.  One  county 
compiled  a  list  of  all  pupils  and  visited  them,  urging  attendance  at 
night  schools  when  attendance  at  day  schools  seemed  impossible.  In 
another  county,  a  vocational  guidance  and  placement  bureau  has  been 
established  to  work  out  the  problem  of  the  boys  and  girls  of  adoles- 
cent age. — [Report  of  child  conservation  section  of  the  Field  Divi- 
sion to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Oct.  1,  1918,  to  July  1, 
1919.] 
Bonuses  for  Service  Men. 

The  legislature  has  passed  a  law  giving  each  soldier  from  Minne- 
sota $15  a  month,  for  each  month  served,  with  a  minimum  amount 
of  $50.  The  time  counted  is  from  the  day  the  United  States  entered 
the  war  until  the  signing  of  the  armistice.  All  Minnesota  soldiers 
who  served  during  this  period  are  entitled  to  the  bonus  whether  now 
residents  of  the  State  or  not. — [The  Home  Sector,  New  York,  N.  Y., 
Oct.  25, 1919.] 


MINNESOTA.  167 

Business  Readjustment. 

A  great  expansion  of  industry  is  anticipated  in  Minnesota  in  the 
readjustment  period,  and  the  State's  resources  are  expected  to  play 
an  important  part  in  the  reconstruction  of  France  as  well  as  in  this 
country.  In  anticipation  of  a  record  demand  for  structural  steel, 
four  steel  fabricating  plants  to  cost  $15,000,000  and  employing 
1,600  men  are  to  be  erected  at  Duluth. — [Dispatch,  St.  Paul,  Minn., 
Nov.  22,  1918.] 

Community  Councils. 

The  Minneapolis  division  of  the  Woman's  Committee  has  been  reor- 
ganized into  a  woman's  community  council  with  each  one  of  the  13 
wards  having  an  organization  of  its  own.  There  is  an  executive 
chairman  of  the  children's  committee,  the  home-and-gardening, 
housing,  speakers,  Americanization,  War  Camp  Community  Service, 
War  Savings  Stamps,  and  Liberty  Loan  committees.  Each  ward 
also  has  a  chairman  for  the  above  committees.  These  chairmen  meet 
with  the  executive  chairmen  and  discuss  the  problems  of  the  different 
sections  of  the  city.  While  they  are  working  for  the  welfare  and 
interests  of  their  respective  wards,  at  the  same  time  they  stand 
ready  for  any  city- wide  service  which  the  women  are  called  on  to 
render.  The  women  are  standing  by  in  a  splendid  way. — [Letter 
from  chairman,  Minneapolis  division  of  the  Woman's  Committee  to 
U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Apr.  23,  1919.] 

The  State  council  of  defense  and  the  county  councils  re- 
main organized,  the  community  council  system  is  retained  only  in 
part,  the  bill  to  place  community  councils  on  permanent  footing  hav- 
ing failed  to  pass.  These  organizations  are  assisting  in  the  man- 
agement of  employment  bureaus  for  soldiers  and  are  attempting  to 
supply  free  legal  aid.  The  counties  are  aiding  in  the  apprehension 
of  deserters. — [Reply  from  State  council  of  defense  to  questionnaire 
of  the  Field  Division,  XJ.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  June  26, 
1919.] 

Credit  for  Time  Spent  in  Service  in  Firemen's  Pensions. 

The  measure  was  approved  April  25  providing  that  soldiers 
who  left  their  employment  as  city  firemen  and  rejoined  the  force 
after  their  discharge  would  receive  credit  for  the  time  spent  in  the 
service  as  applied  to  firemen's  pension  rules. — [Laws  of  Minnesota, 
1919,  ch.  523.] 

Education  of  Betumed  Service  Men. 

An  act  of  the  recent  legislature  provides  that  free  tuition  to  the 
amount  of  $200  shall  be  granted  by  the  State  at  the  University  of 
Minnesota,  the  State  normal  schools,  and  other  institutions  in  the 
State,  to  all  persons  who  have  performed  military  service  outside  the 
State  in  troubles  with  Mexico,  or  overseas  service  in  the  military  or 


158       UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

naval  forces,  or  American  Ked  Cross  work.    The  benefits  of  this  act 
shall  not  extend  beyond  July  1, 1924. — [Laws  of  Minnesota,  1919,  cli. 
338.] 
Employment. 

The  Minneapolis  Civic  and  Commercial  Association  has  secured 
the  assurance  of  practically  90  per  cent  of  the  employers  that  they 
will  reinstate  the  men  who  left  their  employ  to  serve  in  the  several 
branches  of  the  fighting  forces. — [Letter  from  secretary,  Minneap- 
olis Civic  and  Commercial  Association  to  Chamber  of  Commerce  of 
U.  S.  A.,  Dec.  20,  1918.] 

The  situation  caused  by  the  reduction  of  the  United  States  Em- 
ployment Service  is  receiving  the  consideration  of  commercial  or- 
ganizations and  public  officials.  The  governor  hus  brought  the  mat- 
ter to  the  attention  of  the  senate  finance  committee  and  the  house 
appropriations  committee,  with  the  request  that  additional  appro- 
priations be  made  for  the  State  free  employment  service. — [Letter 
from  the  governor  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  17, 
1919.] 

Employment  offices  maintained  in  Minnesota  by  the  Federal  Gov- 
ernment in  cooperation  with  State  and  local  organizations  report  that 
during  the  six  months'  period  from  January  1  to  June  30,  1919, 
77,684  persons  were  registered  who  were  seeking  employment;  82,707 
requests  for  employees  were  received ;  and  60,571  persons  were  placed 
by  these  offices. — [Compiled  from  statistics  furnished  by  U.  S. 
Employment  Service,  Aug.  8,  1919.] 

The  War  and  Navy  Departments'  citation  has  been  issued  to  4,033 
firms  in  Minnesota,  these  employers  having  assured  the  War  and 
Navy  Departments  that  they  will  reemploy  everybody  who  formerly 
worked  with  them  and  left  to  serve  in  the  Army  and  Navy  during 
the  World  War. — [Memorandum  from  assistant  to  the  Secretary  of 
War  in  the  replacement  of  service  men  to  civil  life,  to  U.  S.  Council 
of  National  Defense,  Nov.  20,  1919.] 

A  bureau  of  information  and  advice  and  an  employment  bureau 
for  returning  soldiers  and  sailors  have  been  organized  by  the  Minne- 
apolis Civic  and  Commercial  Association.  Returning  soldiers  and 
sailors  are  being  taken  care  of  by  an  attempt  to  keep  in  touch  with 
industrial  opportunities.  Solicitors  have  been  placed  in  the  field 
whose  duty  it  is  to  visit  the  manufacturers  and  ascertain  the  oppor- 
tunities for  employment.  Twenty  business  men  are  engaged  in  doing 
this  same  work,  while  another  group  of  business  men  are  giving  their 
services  as  vocational  counselors. — [Letter  from  secretary,  Minne- 
apils  Civic  and  Commercial  Association  to  Chamber  of  Commerce  of 
U.  S.  A.,  Dec.  20,  1918.] 

The  mayor  of  Minneapolis  has  appointed  a  citizens'  committee  on 
readjustment  to  care  for  returning  service  men.    This  committee 


MINNESOTA.  159 

has  canvassers  who  go  from  business  place  to  business  place  to  get 
full  information  as  to  possible  openings,  and  also  to  stimulate  the 
creation  of  new  positions.  Cooperation  is  had  with  the  United 
States  Employment  Service,  and  considerable  success  in  placing  re- 
turned soldiers  has  been  attained. — [Letter  from  secretary  of  the 
mayor  of  Minneapolis  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar. 
22,*1919.] 

The  employment  bureau,  organized  by  the  citizens'  committee  on 
readjustment,  is  working  in  conjunction  with  the  United  States  Em- 
ployment Service.  Its  duty  is  to  canvass  the  city  in  an  attempt  to 
locate  all  openings  for  employment  available  and  to  stimulate  em- 
ployers to  increase  opportunities  for  employment  wherever  possible. 
The  buffer  employment  committee  investigates  industrial  matters  and 
suggests  ways  and  means  for  profitably  extending  industry  with  the 
view  to  creating  more  openings  for  labor.  The  city  and  State  legis- 
lature committee  devotes  attention  to  city  and  State  legislation  for 
the  purpose  of  stimulating  public  works  so  that  more  positions  may 
be  created  for  the  returned  men. — [Letter  from  secretary  of  mayor 
of  Minneapolis  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  26,  1919.] 

St.  Paul  men  who  left  their  positions  when  called  into  military 
service  will  find  their  positions  waiting  for  them  when  they  return, 
as  a  result  of  cooperation  by  employers,  conferences  of  labor  leaders 
with  Government  officials,  and  the  activities  of  the  Rehabilitation 
Division  of  the  Federal  Board  of  Vocational  Education. — [Pioneer 
Press,  St.  Paul,  Minn.,  Nov.  20,  1918.] 

A  central  bureau  to  serve  returned  soldiers,  sailors,  and  civilian 
war  workers  will  be  organized  in  St.  Paul  at  once,  which  will  deter- 
mine the  exact  needs  of  returned  service  men  and  secure  for  them 
suitable  and  immediate  employment.  The  work  of  the  28  individual 
agencies  in  the  city  seeking  to  assist  these  men  is  to  be  centralized 
in  this  bureau,  so  as  to  eliminate  duplication  of  effort  and  effect 
greater  service.  In  addition  to  securing  employment  for  returning 
service  men  the  bureau  will  also  investigate,  where  necessary,  indi- 
vidual cases  and  provide  such  necessities  as  may  be  needed.  A  sur- 
vey of  the  city  is  under  way  to  determine  opportunities  for  employ- 
ment, and  employers  are  being  asked  to  list  whatever  openings  they 
may  have  in  their  various  organizations  with  the  bureau. — [Publi- 
cation of  the  St.  Paul  Commerce  Association,  Jan.  10,  1919.] 

On  account  of  the  necessary  curtailment  of  the  activities  of  the 
United  States  Employment  Service,  the  city  of  St.  Paul  has  agreed 
to  finance  the  local  branch  of  the  employment  service  until  July  1,  if 
necessary.  The  employment  service  is  cooperating  with  the  Ameri- 
can Red  Cross  and  about  20  civic  and  commercial  organizations,  in 
maintainiug  a  central  bureau  to  aid  service  men  in  obtaining  em- 


160       UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  REOONSTRUOTION. 

ployment  and  in  furnishing  temporary  relief.    A  large  majority  of 
the  industries  of  the  city  have  promised  and  are  giving  employment 
preference  to  men  from  the  service. — [Telegram  from  mayor  of  St. 
Paul  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  26,  1919.] 
Engrlish  Langrnage  in  Schools. 

An  act  was  approved  April  21  establishing  English  as  the 
basic  language  to  be  used  in  all  public  schools  and  private  institu- 
tions which  take  the  place  of  public  schools.  A  foreign  language 
may  be  taught,  same  not  to  exceed  one  hour  in  each  day. — [Laws  of 
Minnesota,  1919,  ch.  320.] 
Highways. 

An  act,  approved  April  16,  to  be  submitted  to  the  voters 
of  the  State  at  the  next  general  election,  authorizes  bond  issues 
to  carry  out  a  plan  of  road  construction  which  calls  for  a  State 
trunk  highway  system  approximately  6,000  miles  in  length  to  con- 
nect all  the  principal  cities  and  towns  of  the  State.  The  plan  also 
provides  for  a  secondary  road  system  of  approximately  7,000  miles, 
these  roads  to  be  built  at  county  expense  and  to  serve  as  the  connect- 
ing links  between  roads  in  the  State  highway  system.  A  third  sys- 
tem of  roads  will  be  the  town  and  township  system,  to  be  built  by 
town  funds,  connecting  the  county  highways,  thereby  creating  a 
State-wide  system  of  goods  roads. — [Laws  of  Minnesota,  1919,  ch. 
263.] 

On  October  1,  1919,  76  highway  projects  had  been  approved  in  the 
State,  involving  the  improvement  of  1,060.68  miles  of  road,  at  a  total 
estimated  cost  of  $6,702,469.80,  of  which  the  Federal  Government  is 
requested  to  pay  $3,076,416.78,  in  accordance  w^ith  the  provisions  of 
the  Federal-aid  road  act  of  July  11,  1916,  as  amended  by  the  act  of 
February  28,  1919. — [Statement  prepared  by  Bureau  of  Public 
'Roads,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture.] 

An  act,  approved  April  16,  authorizes  counties  to  issue  bonds, 
not  in  any  case  to  exceed  15  per  cent  of  the  taxable  property  in  the 
county,  to  be  applied  to  the  building  of  State  roads.  In  the  case  of 
issue  of  less  than  $126,000,  a  four-fifths  vote  of  the  county  board  may 
authorize  an  issue;  if  between  $126,000  and  $260,000,  a  unanimous 
vote  of  the  board  is  required ;  while  if  the  issue  is  to  be  more  than 
$250,000,  the  matter  must  be  referred  to  the  people  for  action. — 
[Laws  of  Minnesota,  1919,  ch.  266.] 
Housing  Accommodations. 

Minneapolis  has  plans  under  way  for  the  construction  of  homes 
on  two  blocks  of  lots  on  opposite  sides  of  the  street.  The  houses  will 
not  contain  more  than  five  rooms  and  are  to  cost  $1,600  and  $2,500. — 
[Housing  Betterment,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  June,  1919.] 


MINNESOTA.  161 

Information  Service  for  Returned  Service  Men. 

The  bureau  of  advice  and  information  of  tlie  citizens'  committee 
on  readjustment  provides  returning  men  with  definite  and  reliable  in- 
formation concerning  their  immediate  problems.  Furthermore,  a 
committee  consisting  of  representatives  of  all  the  principal  welfare 
agencies  having  to  do  with  returned  men  serves  as  a  clearing  house 
of  information  for  all  these  organizations  and  prevents  unnecessary- 
duplication  of  effort  or  overlajjping  of  activities. 

The  vocational  counselors'  committee  of  the  citizens'  committee  on 
readjustment,  composed  of  volunteer  business  and  professional  men, 
furnishes  advice  and  information  to  returned  service  men  in  deter- 
mining the  line  for  which  they  are  best  fitted. — [Letter  from  secre- 
tary of  mayor  of  Minneapolis  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
Mar.  26,  1919.] 

The  local  branches  of  the  American  Red  Cross  are  cooperating 
with  other  organizations  in  establishing  contacts  with  service  men 
for  the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  adjustment  of  their  allotments, 
allowance  accounts,  compensation  and  claims,  and  the  reinstatement 
of  lapsed  or  canceled  insurance.  It  is  the  desire  of  the  Bureau  of 
War  Risk  Insurance  that  all  inquiries  of  this  nature  be  cleared 
through  the  home-service  sections  of  the  American  Red  Cross.  Up 
to  April  1,  1919,  the  American  Red  Cross  had  organized  in  Minne- 
sota 682  units  with  a  total  of  1,526  workers. — [Statement  prepared  by 
American  National  Red  Cross  for  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
November,  1919.] 
Land  Settlement. 

A  commission  appointed  by  the  governor  to  investigate  the 
proposition  of  providing  land  for  returned  soldiers  will  meet  in 
Duluth  and  advise  legislation  to  put  into  effect  a  plan  to  coordinate 
the  State  and  Federal  efforts  in  this  project. — [News  Tribune, 
Duluth,  Minn.,  Nov.  14,  1918.] 

In  his  message  to  the  legislature  the  governor  submitted  the  recom- 
mendations of  thp  commission  appointed  to  consider  the  subject  of 
State  cooperation  with  the  Federal  Government  in  providing  farm 
homes  for  returned  soldiers,  and  he  urged  favorable  consideration. 
The  governor  also  recommended  that  the  legislature  enact  laws  that 
will  facilitate  the  cooperative  movement  among  farmers,  and  pro- 
posed a  State  department  of  agriculture  to  help  the  farmers  in 
every  way  possible  and  to  conduct  the  work  of  land  settlement. — 
[Herald,  Duluth,  Minn.,  Jan.  8,  1919.] 

The  present  plan  in  the  State  of  improving  5  acres  of  land  to 
every  40  sold,  the  expenses  of  such  improvement  limited  to  $300, 
payable  in  5  years,  with  the  cost  of  the  property  payable  in  40  years, 
works  well.     Other  features  will  be  added  in  an  attempt  to  gain 

134286°— 20 11 


162       UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

discliarged  soldiers  as  settlers,  providing  for  the  improvement  of  5 
acres  on  an  80-acre  tract,  as  well  as  a  loan  of  money  on  a  long-time 
payment. — [Dispatch,  St.  Paul,  Minn.,  Jan.  10,  1919.] 

Three  basic  plans  are  now  advanced  in  the  legislature  to  en- 
courage land  settlement.  One  is  for  the  State  to  buy  privately 
owned  but  untenanted  land  outright  and  sell  it  to  bona  fide  settlers ; 
another  is  for  the  State  to  loan  money  to  such  settlers  with  which 
to  buy  the  land ;  and  the  third  is  for  the  settlers  to  buy  the  land  from 
the  individual  owners  and  to  borrow  money  from  the  Federal  Gov- 
ernment and  the  State  for  its  improvement. — [Herald,  Duluth, 
Minn.,  Jan.  20,  1919.] 

Two  acts  have  been  passed  by  the  legislature  for  the  purpose  of 
attracting  people  to  the  State  as  settlers.  The  first  act  creates  the 
'•  Minnesota  Land  and  Lake  Attractions  Board  "  to  conduct  a  pub- 
licity compaign  advertising  the  worth  of  the  land  of  the  State  and 
of  its  numerous  lakes.    The  act  carries  an  appropriation  of  $15,000. 

The  second  act  permits  the  county  commissioners  of  any  county 
having  a  population  of  less  than  200,000  inliabitants  to  pay  a  sum 
of  money  not  exceeding  5  cents  per  capita  of  the  jDopulation  of  such 
county  to  any  incorporated  development  society  of  the  State  for 
advertising  or  improving  the  agricultural  or  other  resources  of  the 
State.— [Laws  of  Minnesota,  1919,  chs.  166,  205.] 

The  governor  appointed  a  committee  of  five  members  on  land 
settlement  for  returning  soldiers  and  industrial  workers. 

It  is  understood  that  the  governor  has  appointed  a  State-wide  com- 
mittee to  act  in  soldier-settlement  and  reclamation  matters,  affiliated 
with  the  Lake  States  committee  representing  Wisconsin,  Minnesota, 
and  Michigan. — [Memorandum  from  Eeclamation  Service,  U.  S. 
Dept.  of  the  Interior  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  July  21, 
1919.] 
Loans  to  Service  Men. 

For  the  purpose  of  furnishing  financial  assistance  to  returned  sol- 
diers, sailors,  and  marines  the  Duluth  Military  Club  has  established 
a  loan  fund  for  the  use  of  ex-service  men,  by  which  they  are  loaned 
money  for  a  year  without  interest. — [News  Tribune,  Duluth,  Minn., 
Mar.  3,  1919.] 

Motor  Transport  Service, 

A  highways  transport  service  to  convey  foodstuffs  direct  from  the 
producer  to  the  consumer  is  in  process  of  development  in  the  State 
under  direction  of  the  State  public  safety  commission.  The  com- 
mission believes  such  a  service  to  be  of  the  utmost  importance  to  tho 
agricultural  and  business  development  of  the  State. — [Tribune, 
Minneapolis,  Minn.,  Dec.  8,  1918.] 


MINNESOTA.  163 

Preference  to  Returned  Service  Men  in  Public  Employment. 

All  act  was  approved  February  IT  which  provides  that  pref- 
erence shall  be  given  to  discharged  service  men  in  every  department 
and  upon  all  public  works  carried  on  by  the  State,  counties,  and 
municipalities.  The  act  applies  to  positions  as  well  as  appointments, 
and  service  men  can  not  be  disqualified  on  account  of  age  or  physical 
disability. — [Laws  of  Minnesota,  1919,  ch.  14.] 

Public  Works. 

Reports  received  in  January,  1919,  cover  89  public  building  and 
construction  projects  which  were  under  way  or  contemplated  in  the 
State,  aggregating  an  estimated  value  of  $27,995,000.  Of  this  num- 
ber, 29  were  street  improvements,  estimated  to  cost  $16,395,000;  18 
were  schools,  estimated  to  cost  $6,820,000;  and  10  were  sewers,  esti- 
mated to  cost  $1,595,000. — [Statistics  compiled  by  Division  of  Public 
Works  and  Construction  Developments,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor,  Apr. 
IT,  1919.] 

In  order  to  avoid  a  condition  of  unemployment  and  stagnation  of 
business,  the  Dulutli  Commercial  Club  invited  representatives  from 
various  civic  organizations  to  discuss  a  progi*am  of  stimulating  city 
and  county  public  improvements  on  such  a  scale  as  to  guarantee  the 
absorption  of  surplus  labor.  These  various  interests  have  come 
together  and  are  supporting  projects  of  public  construction  and  im- 
provement. One  measure  which  was  supported  and  has  now  been 
passed  by  the  legislature  was  the  bill  authorizing  the  city  of  Duluth 
to  issue  bonds  to  the  extent  of  $100,000  to  enable  the  carrying  out  of 
about  $2,500,000  of  work  in  street  improvements.  The  bill  which 
will  be  submitted  to  the  vote  of  the  people  as  a  constitutional  amend- 
ment in  1920,  providing  for  the  construction  of  State  roads,  is  also 
being  favored. — [Publication  of  the  Duluth  Commercial  Club, 
February,  1919.] 
Reconstruction  Committee. 

In  December  the  citizens'  committee  on  readjustment  was  ap- 
pointed by  the  mayor  of  Minneapolis  to  assist  in  reinstating  in  in- 
dustrial employment  returning  soldiers  and  sailors;  to  assist  in  co- 
ordinating the  work  of  the  various  agencies  which  have  to  do  with 
the  Avelfare  of  the  soldiers  and  sailors;  to  offer  the  men  advice  and 
suggestions  regarding  the  particular  class  of  employment  for  which 
they  are  best  fitted;  and  to  work  in  every  possible  way  for  the 
rcassimilation  of  these  men  as  citizens.  To  these  ends,  there  have 
been  organized  an  employment  bureau,  a  bureau  on  advice  and  in- 
formation, a  vocational  counselors'  committee,  a  buffer  employment 
committee,  a  city  and  State  legislative  committee,  and  other  com- 
mittees.— [Letter  from  secretary  of  mayor  of  Minneapolis  to  U.  S. 
Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  26,  1919.] 


164       UNITED  STATES  KEADJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

Reconstruction  Conference. 

Mayors  of  cities  and  presidents  of  village  councils  from  about  100 
Minnesota  cities  and  villages,  meeting  at  Minneapolis  to  discuss  re- 
construction problems  relating  to  the  returned  service  men  and  in- 
dustrial readjustment,  voted  unanimously  to  form  a  permanent 
organization. — [Journal,  Minneapolis,  Minn.,  Feb.  10,  1919.] 
Reconstruction  Problems. 

The  Minneapolis  Civic  and  Commercial  Association  expects  to 
appoint  a  special  committee  to  deal  with  the  several  problems  of 
reconstruction,  such  as  extension  of  business;  development  of  an 
export  trade ;  the  carrying  forward  of  public  works  for  the  creation 
of  buflfer  employment;  and  the  bringing  up  to  date  of  necessary 
civic  improvements,  industrial  relations,  education,  land  for  returned 
soldiers,  etc.  The  entire  energy  of  the  organization  will  be  mobilized 
for  this  task. — [Letter  from  Secretary,  Minneapolis  Civic  and  Com- 
mercial Association  to  Chamber  of  Commerce  of  U.  S.  A.,  Dec.  20, 
1918.] 
Registration  of  Discharge  Papers. 

An  act,  approved  April  15,  permits  the  registration  by  county 
registrars  of  deeds  of  soldiers'  discharge  papers. — [Laws  of  Minne- 
sota, 1919,  ch.  266.] 
School  Gardens. 

School  gardens  are  being  conducted  in  62  cities  and  towns,  the 
total  present  enrollment  in  the  State  being  43,762.  In  Minneapolis 
during  the  season  of  1919  there  were  5,300  children  enrolled. — [Pre- 
pared from  material  furnished  by  U.  S.  School  Garden  Army  to 
U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Nov.  1,  1919.] 
Tax  Exemption  for  Service  Men. 

An  act,  passed  March  29,  authorizes  the  abatement  of  penalties, 
interest,  and  costs  on  taxes  levied  on  land  owned  by  men  who  served 
in  the  United  States  Army  or  Navy  during  the  World  War. — [Laws 
of  Minnesota,  1919,  ch.  140.] 

Chapter  415,  Laws  of  Minnesota,  1919,  permits  honorably  dis- 
charged service  men  to  peddle  goods  without  a  license. — [Informa- 
tion Bureau,  American  National  Red  Cross  Compendium  Change 
No.  117.] 
Trees  for  France. 

Several  millions  of  young  pine  trees  will  be  sent  by  Minnesota  to 
war-devastated  regions  of  France,  the  French  Government  having  ac- 
cepted the  offer  of  the  Minnesota  forestry  officials. — [Christian 
Science  Monitor,  Boston,  Mass.,  Apr.  10,  1919.] 

Vocational  Reeducation  of  Disabled  Service  Men. 

An  effort  will  be  made  by  the  officials  of  the  Federal  Board  for 
Vocational    Education    to    enlist    the    services    of    women's    clubs 


MHOTESOTA.  165 

throughout  Minnesota  and  other  Northwestern  States  in  reporting 
all  cases  of  wounded  or  disabled  soldiers  who  have  reentered  civil 
life  in  low-grade  occupations,  that  they  may  be  induced  to  take 
proper  training  and  equip  themselves  so  they  may  become  independ- 
ent of  the  ordinary  fluctuations  of  the  labor  market. — [Pioneer  Press, 
St.  Paul,  Minn.,  Mar.  11,  1^19.] 

The  legislature  passed  a  bill,  approved  April  23,  appropriat- 
ing $39,600  for  the  next  two  years  for  a  bureau  of  vocational  educa- 
tion to  work  in  cooperation  with  the  Federal  Government  in  the  in- 
dustrial reeducation  for  cripples. — [Laws  of  Minnesota,  1919,  ch. 
365.] 

In  accordance  with  section  2  of  the  Federal  vocational  rehabilita- 
tion act  of  June  27,  1918,  as  amended  July,  11,  1919,  arrangements 
had  been  made  up  to  October  25,  1919,  by  the  Federal  Board  for 
Vocational  Education  with  31  educational  institutions  in  the  State 
for  the  reeducation  of  service  men  to  overcome  the  handicap  of  dis- 
abilities incurred  in  the  service.  A  total  of  505  such  men  have  been 
sent  to  these  institutions  for  training.  Arrangements  have  also  been 
made  by  this  board  with  19  industrial  establishments  in  the  State 
whereby  the  latter  have  undertaken  to  train  a  total  of  23  disabled 
men. — [Compiled  from  statement  prepared  by  Rehabilitation  Divi- 
sion, Federal  Board  for  Vocational  Education.] 
Welfare  of  Returned  Service  Men. 

A  meeting  has  been  called  by  the  chairman  of  the  returned  sol- 
diers' cooperative  movement,  which  will  be  attended  by  represen- 
tatives from  all  parts  of  the  State,  to  work  out  a  plan  for  cooperating 
with  the  returned  soldiers  to  help  solve  their  problems.  The  meet- 
ing will  be  held  at  Minneapolis. — [Free  Press,  Mankato,  Minn., 
Mar.  3,  1919.] 

A  special  bulletin  presenting  the  method  of  operation  of  the  bureau 
for  returning  soldiers  and  sailors  and  its  employment  facilities,  its 
care  of  the  stranded  men,  its  personal  aid  in  adjusting  his  problem 
of  reentering  civil  life,  including  a  welcome,  has  been  issued  by 
the  bureau.  It  will  be  distributed  to  returning  soldiers,  sailors,  and 
marines  coming  to  or  passing  through  St.  Paul.  The  bulletin  por- 
trays the  business  and  civic  advantages  of  St.  Paul  and  contains  a 
map  of  the  down-town  district  to  direct  the  soldier  or  sailor  to 
the  agencies  maintained  to  assist  him. — [Pioneer  Press,  St.  Paul, 
Minn.,  Mar.  15,  1919.] 
Woman's  Committee. 

A  booklet  has  been  issued  by  the  chairman  of  the  State  division  of 
the  Woman's  Committee,  United  States  Council  of  National  Defense, 
having  as  its  subject.  Continuation  Work.  Fifteen  thousand  copies 
of  the  booklet  will  be  sent  out  to  defense  council  workers  and  club- 


166        UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

women.  It  is  designed  to  give  a  program  of  follow-up  work  for  the 
State  council  of  defense  activities  and  to  outline  a  permanent  work 
for  w^omen  of  Minnesota  for  community  betterment.  The  pamphlet 
tells  how  women  can  serve  their  country  in  peace  as  well  as  in  war  by 
community  councils,  organization  of  parent-teacher  associations, 
support  of  clubs  and  fraternal  organizations,  child  welfare,  improve- 
ment of  conditions  for  women  and  children  in  industry,  home-eco- 
nomic courses,  lectures  on  cooking  and  sewing  for  all  women,  recrea- 
tion for  young  and  old,  and  substitutes  for  the  saloon.  Help  for 
foreigners  is  suggested  through  education  in  citizenship  and  patriot- 
ism, vocational  training,  and  liberty  extension.  The  booklet  sug- 
gests books  and  courses  of  study  for  clubs  doing  community  work.— 
[News,  St.  Paul,  Minn.,  Mar.  9,  1919.] 

MISSISSIPPI. 

Assistance  for  Service  Men. 

The  State  council  of  defense  has  urged  lawyers  and  physicians  to 
give  voluntary  legal  and  medical  aid  to  service  men,  and  they  have 
liberally  responded. — [Letter  from  president,  Mississippi  A.  and 
M.  College  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  24,  1919.] 

"  Back-to-School "  Drive. 

The  "  Back-to-school  "  drive  and  the  "  Stay-in-school  "  campaign 
met  with  a  hearty  response. — [Report  of  child  conservation  section 
of  the  Field  Division  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Oct. 
1,  1918,  to  July  1,  1919.] 
Council  of  Defense. 

The  council  of  defense  will  not  continue  its  organization  through 
the  reconstruction  period.  The  county  councils,  however,  are  still 
subject  to  call  and  are  continuing  the  organization  of  community 
councils.  These  comicils  are  cooperating  with  the  employment  serv- 
ice in  securing  employment  for  soldiers,  and  are  continuing  the 
apprehension  of  deserters  to  some  extent. — [Reply  from  State  coun- 
cil of  defense  to  questionnaire  of  the  Field  Division,  U.  S.  Council  of 
National  Defense,  July  7,  1919.] 
Education  of  Returned  Service  Men. 

The    State    educational    institutions    are    cooperating    with    the 
Federal  Government  in  making  provision  for  the  education  of  re- 
turned soldiers.— [Letter  from  president,  Mississippi  A.  and  M.  Col- 
lege to  U.  S.Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  24, 1919.] 
Employment. 

The  governor  has  under  his  control  State  funds  appropriated  by 
the  legislature  for  the  use  of  the  State  council  of  defense.  Some  of 
this  money  will  be  used  for  the  maintenance  of  employment  bureaus 
under  the  direction  of  the  State  council  of  defense.— [Telegram 


MISSISSIPPI.  167 

from  the  governor  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  21, 
1919.] 

The  State  council  of  defense  has  been  cooperating  with  the  em- 
pjloynient  service  of  the  Federal  Government  since  the  signing  of  the 
armistice;  county  and  community  councils  have  been  requested  to 
cooperate  with  all  other  local  agencies  in  an  effort  to  see  that  every 
returned  soldier  finds  immediate  employment;  the  governor,  who 
is  chairman  of  the  State  council,  is  now  making  an  effort  to  arrange 
to  finance  the  employment  service  of  the  Federal  Government  in  the 
State  so  that  its  activities  will  not  be  curtailed  by  the  failure  of  Con- 
gress to  make  an  appropriation  for  that  purpose. — [Letter  from  vice 
chairman.  State  council  of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  De- 
fense, Mar.  24,  1919.] 

Employment  offices  maintained  in  Mississippi  by  the  Federal  Gov- 
ernment in  cooperation  with  State  and  local  organizations,  report 
that  during  the  six  months'  period  from  January  1  to  June  30, 
1919,  23,347  persons  were  registered  who  were  seeking  employment; 
24,752  requests  for  employees  were  received;  and  1G,881  persons 
were  placed  by  these  offices. — [Compiled  from  statistics  furnished 
by  U.  S.  Employment  Service,  Aug.  8, 1919.] 

The  War  and  Navy  Departments'  citation  has  been  issued  to  222 
firms  in  Mississippi,  these  emplo3^ers  having  assured  the  War  and 
Navy  Departments  that  they  will  reemploy  everybody  who  formerly 
worked  with  them  and  left  to  serve  in  the  Army  and  Navy  during 
the  World  War. — [Memorandum  from  assistant  to  the  Secretary  of 
War  in  the  replacement  of  service  men  to  civil  life,  to  U.  S.  Council 
of  National  Defense,  Nov.  20,  1919.] 

Highways. 

The  State  highway  engineer  has  advised  that  during  the  next 
session  of  the  State  legislature,  which  will  convene  January  1,  1920, 
thL^  highway  department  will  introduce  a  bill  requesting  that  the 
issuance  of  $20,000,000  in  State  bonds,  to  be  used  in  road  construc- 
tion, be  authorized.  The  principal  road  project  is  the  New  Orleans- 
Mobile  Highway. — [Bulletin  No.  47,  Highways  Transport  Com- 
mittee, U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense.] 

On  October  1,  1919,  32  highway  projects  had  been  approved  in  the 
State,  involving  the  improvement  of  333.93  miles  of  road  at  a  total 
estimated  cost  of  $1,849,977.55,  of  which  the  Federal  Government  is 
requested  to  pay  $803,357.21  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the 
Federal-aid  road  act  of  July  11,  1916,  as  amended  by  the  act  of 
February  28,  1919. — [Statement  prepared  by  Bureau  of  Public 
Roads,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture.] 
Information  Service  for  Returned  Service  Men. 

The  local  branches  of  the  Auierican  Red  Cross  are  cooperating 
with  other  organizations  in  establishing  contacts  with  service  men 


168        UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

for  the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  adjustment  of  their  allotments, 
allowance  accounts,  compensation  and  claims,  and  the  reinstatement 
of  lapsed  or  canceled  insurance.  It  is  the  desire  of  the  Bureau  of 
War  Risk  Insurance  that  all  inquiries  of  this  nature  be  cleared 
through  the  home-service  sections  of  the  American  Eed  Cross.  Up 
to  April  1, 1919,  the  American  Red  Cross  had  organized  in  Mississippi 
233  units  with  a  total  of  254  workers. — [Statement  prepared  by 
American  National  Red  Cross  for  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
November,  1919.] 
land  Settlement. 

The  State  committee  in  charge  of  securing  land  for  returned  sol- 
diers has  announced  that  options  have  been  secured  on  125,000  acres 
of  land  in  one  block  located  in  southern  Mississippi,  and  on  26,000 
acres  in  another  block  in  the  delta  for  the  use  of  returned  soldiers. — 
[News  Scimitar,  Memphis,  Tenn.,  Mar.  7,  1919.] 

The  State  legislature  does  not  meet  until  1920,  but  a  committee  of 
eight  has  been  appointed  to  represent  the  State  with  reference  to 
matters  relating  to  the  settlement  of  returned  soldiers  upon  land, 
being  the  result  of  a  State-wide  meeting  for  the  purpose  of  formulat- 
ing a  soldier-settlement  policy. — [Memorandum  from  Reclamation 
Service,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  the  Interior  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National 
Defense,  July  1,  1919.] 
Public  Works. 

Reports  received  in  January,  1919,  cover  36  public  building  and 
construction  projects  which  were  under  way  or  contemplated  in  the 
State,  aggregating  an  estimated  value  of  $11,300,000.  Of  this  num- 
ber 15  were  street  improvements,  estimated  to  cost  $5,130,000;  9 
were  sewers,  estimated  to  cost  $1,970,000;  and  2  were  schools,  esti- 
mated to  cost  $80,000. — [Statistics  compiled  by  Division  of  Public 
Works  and  Construction  Developments,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor,  Apr. 
17,  1919.] 
School  Gardens. 

School  gardens  are  being  conducted  in  32  cities  and  towns,  the 
total  present  enrollment  in  the  State  being  1,405. — [Prepared  from 
material  furnished  by  U.  S.  School  Garden  Army  to  U.  S.  Council 
of  National  Defense,'  Nov.  1,  1919.] 
Vocational  Reeducation  of  Disabled  Service  Men. 

The  director  of  the  school  of  agriculture  of  the  Mississippi  Agri- 
cultural and  Mechanical  College  has  announced  the  commencement 
of  courses  designed  to  afford  agricultural  instruction  to  disabled 
and  returned  soldiers.  Board  and  rooms,  including  heat,  water^ 
lights,  and  laundry,  will  be  furnished  men  for  about  $18  a  month, 
and  no  tuition  will  be  charged  for  soldiers  from  Mississippi. — 
[Times-Picayune,  New  Orleans,  La.,  Nov.  23,  1918.] 


MISSOURI.  *  169 

In  accordance  with  section  2  of  the  Federal  vocational  rehabilita- 
tion act  of  June  27,  1918,  as  amended  July  11,  1919,  arrangements 
had  been  made  up  to  October  25,  1919,  by  the  Federal  Board  for 
Vocational  Education  with  four  educational  institutions  in  the  State 
for  the  reeducation  of  service  men  to  overcome  the  handicap  of  dis- 
abilities incurred  in  the  service.  A  total  of  250  such  men  have  been 
sent  to  these  institutions  for  training.  Arrangements  have  also  been 
made  by  this  board  with  three  industrial  establishments  in  the  State 
whereby  the  latter  have  undertaken  to  train  three  disabled  men. — 
[Compiled  from  statement  prepared  by  Rehabilitation  Division, 
Federal  Board  for  Vocational  Education.] 
Woman's  Committee. 

The  State  division  will  continue  as  long  as  possible  and,  if  a 
proposed  plan  is  adopted,  it  will  become  a  part  of  the  community 
council  organization  automatically.  Mississippi  is  a  rural  State  and 
the  State  division  of  the  Woman's  Committee  offers  the  only  means 
of  reaching  all  the  people.  Seventy-five  per  cent  of  the  State  divi- 
sion women  desire  to  continue. — [Statement  by  chairman,  State 
division  of  the  Woman's  Committee,  U.  S.  Council  of  National 
Defense,  at  a  conference,  Washington,  D.  C,  Feb.  12,  1919.] 

MISSOURI. 

Americanization. 

Of  the  three  important  activities  the  State  council  of  defense  is 
now  considering,  Americanization  is  the  first.  The  chairman  of  the 
Americanization  committee  has  given  several  months  of  close  study 
to  the  application  of  the  program  to  Missouri.  The  coming  legis- 
lature will  probably  be  asked  to  pass  certain  laws  and  appropriate 
funds  for  carrying  out  the  program  effectively.  A  meeting  of  the 
committee  has  been  called  for  December  14  in  Kansas  City. — [Publi- 
cation of  State  council  of  defense,  Dec.  12,  1918.] 

An  evening  school  has  been  conducted  in  Havelock  for  discharged 
soldiers  who  are  unable  to  read  English.  The  class  began  with  a  few 
and  soon  grew  until  it  contained  60  men  and  a  number  of  women.  For 
the  coming  year  it  is  planned  to  have  girls  take  care  of  the  children 
so  that  more  of  the  illiterate  mothers  may  attend  the  classes.  All 
the  normal  schools  of  the  State  are  giving  courses  in  Americaniza- 
tion.— [Compiled  from  forthcoming  report  of  director  of  citizenship 
to  Commissioner  of  Naturalization,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor,  1920.] 

In  St.  Louis  great  effort  is  being  put  forth  to  Americanize  aliens 
by  giving  courses  in  the  night  schools,  canvassing  the  city  to  secure 
the  names  of  aliens,  and  encouraging  naturalization. — [Christian 
Science  Monitor,  Boston,  Mass.,  Jan.  30;  Feb.  10,  1919.] 

A  program  of  the  Americanization  work,  carefully  planned  and 
already    being   carried    out    successfully,    has    been    developed    by 


170        UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

the  Woman's  Council  of  St.  Louis.  Associated  with  the  woman's 
council  in  the  enterprise  are  about  75,000  St.  Louis  women  citizens. 
For  the  purpose  of  enlisting  workers  from  among  these,  a  training- 
class  will  be  conducted  for  teachers  of  subjects  related  to  Americani- 
zation. The  program  is  three-fold;  one  part  being  for  the  native 
whites,'  one  for  negroes,  and  one  for  immigrants.  The  council  has 
passed  a  resolution  requesting  the  Federal  Government  to  amend 
naturalization  laws  so  that  they  shall  require  a  more  comprehensive 
knowledge  of  America  and  American  ideals  from  applicants  for 
Second' papers. — [Post,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Mar.  25,  1910.] 

The  St.  Louis  and  Kansas  City  Chambers  of  Commerce  are  doing 
some  Americanization  work. — [Reply  from  State  council  of  defense 
to  questionnaire  of  the  Field  Division,  U.  S.  Council  of  National  De- 
fense, June  26,  1919.] 

Assistance  for  Service  Men. 

The  bar  associations  are  giving  free  legal  aid  to  men. — [Reply 
from  State  council  of  defense  to  questionnaire  of  the  Field  Division, 
U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  June  26,  1919.] 

Parts  of  the  American  Legion  are  rapidly  being  formed  through- 
out the  State.  Each  appoints  a  lawyer  member  to  give  legal  advice 
and  collect  pay  and  travel  claims. — [Statement  from  the  adjutant 
general's  office  to  IT.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Aug.  11,  1919.] 

"  Back-to-School "  Drive. 

A  circular  letter  was  sent  out  to  the  county  directors  of  child  wel- 
fare work  informing  them  that  all  moving-picture  theaters  in  the 
county  would  receive  a  slide  about  the  "Back-to-school "  drive,  and 
urging  them  to  see  that  every  picture-house  manager  in  their  county 
received  the  slide,  explain  to  him  the  purpose  of  presenting  it  and 
find  out  when  he  would  present  it. — [Letter  from  State  division  of 
the  Woman's  Committee  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Feb. 
10,  1919.] 

For  the  "Back-to-school"  drive  the  State  chairman  had  the  co- 
operation of  the  county  superintendents  of  schools,  principals,  teach- 
ers, officers  issuing  working  permits,  American  Red  Cross,  and  boys' 
and  girls'  clubs. — [Report  of  child  conservation  section  of  the  Field 
Division  to  IT.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Oct.  1, 1918,  to  July  1, 
1919.] 

Building  Activity. 

City  planners  of  St.  Louis  propose  that  the  city's  taxpayers  shall 
furnish  $11,375,000  for  low-priced  industrial  sites  to  stimulate  in- 
dustrial activity. — [Globe-Democrat,  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  Mar.  9,  1919.] 

Council  of  Defense. 

An  appropriation  of  $74,158  has  been  made,  payable  to  the  treas- 
urer of  the  State  council  of  defense,  to  reimburse  those  members  of 


MISSOURI.  171 

the  council  who  advanced  the  funds  necessary  to  pay  the  expenses  of 
the  council. — [Laws  of  Missouri,  1919,  p.  33.] 

Employment. 

A  bill  has  been  enacted  creating  a  commission  to  assist  soldiers  or 
sailors  who  were  enlisted  or  drafted  from  the  State  in  obtaining  em- 
plojanent.  The  commission  is  to  consist  of  the  adjutant  general 
and  the  commissioner  of  labor,  and  is  to  be  known  as  the  Missouri 
Soldiers'  and  Sailors'  Employment  Commission.  The  duty  of  this 
commission  is  to  confer  with  employers  with  regard  to  reinstatement 
in  former  positions  and  to  report  to  the  governor,  giving  reasons  in 
cases  where  reinstatement  is  denied.  All  reports  of  the  commission 
are  to  be  given  publicity.  Lists  of  positions  open  are  to  be  kept  in 
order  to  obtain  employment  for  all.  An  appropriation  of  $10,000  is 
made  in  order  to  meet  contingent  expenses,  postage,  printing,  travel, 
clerical  service,  etc. — [Laws  of  Missouri,  1919,  p.  81.] 

Immediately  upon  approval  by  the  governor  of  the  act  passed  by 
the  legislature  constituting  the  adjutamt  general  and  the  State  labor 
commissioner  a  commission  to  assist  discharged  Missouri  soldiers, 
sailors,  and  marines  in  obtaining  employment,  it  was  announced  that 
the  work  would  begin  at  once.  The  offices  of  the  State  labor  bureau 
in  St.  Louis,  Kansas  City,  and  St.  Joseph  will  be  used  by  the  com- 
mission as  headquarters  at  these  points,  and  a  central  office  will  be 
maintained  at  Jefferson  City.  The  commission  will  at  once  get  in 
touch  with  employers  of  soldiers;  and  an  effort  will  be  made  to  place 
every  Missourian  in  the  position  he  held  prior  to  the  war,  or  a  better 
one,  immediately  upon  his  discharge  from  Federal  service.  The 
law  provides  that  when  employers  have  promised  to  take  back  their 
employees  and  fail  to  do  so,  the  facts  will  be  investigated  and  pub- 
lished. The  commission  announces  that  this  will  be  done  in  every 
case.  The  activities  of  the  commission  will  be  confined  to  obtaining 
employment  for  Missouri  soldiers,  sailors,  and  marines,  and  it  will 
act  independently  of  the  Federal  employment  bureau.  Publicity 
will  be  relied  upon  very  largely  to  make  the  efforts  of  the  commission 
effective.— [Journal,  Kansas  City,  Mo.,  Apr.  24,  1919.] 

Employment  offices  maintained  in  Missouri  by  the  Federal  Gov- 
ernment in  cooperation  with  State  and  local  organizations,  report 
that  during  the  six  months'  period  from  January  1  to  June  30,  1919, 
110,057  persons  were  registered  who  were  seeking  employment; 
97,058  requests  for  employees  were  received;  and  73,381  persons 
were  placed  by  these  offices. — [Compiled  from  statistics  furnished 
by  U.  S.  Employment  Service,  Aug.  8,  1919.] 

The  War  and  Navy  Departments'  citation  has  been  issued  to  3,4:42 
firms  in  Missouri,  these  employers  having  assured  the  War  and  Navy 
Departments  that  they   will   reemploy    everybody    who    formerly 


172        UNITED  STATES  KEADJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

worked  with  them  and  left  to  serve  in  the  Army  and  Navy  during 
the  World  War. — [Memorandum  from  assistant  to  the  Secretary  of 
War  in  the  replacement  of  service  men  to  civil  life,  to  U.  S.  Council 
of  National  Defense,  Nov.  20,  1919.] 

The  employment  problem  in  Kansas  City  was  handled  by  the 
United  States  Employment  Service.  In  May,  however,  the  War 
Camp  Community  Service  placed  an  assistant  in  the  employment 
office  to  aid  in  looking  after  the  interest  of  the  returned  men,  with 
particular  attention  to  the  placing  of  disabled  soldiers.  It  was  re- 
ported in  July  that  nearly  all  disabled  men  had  been  placed  in  po- 
sitions.— [Report  of  War  Camp  Community  Service  for  U.  S. 
Council  of  National  Defense,  August,  1919.] 

The  St.  Louis  Chamber  of  Commerce  is  cooperating  with  the  Gov- 
etnment  employment  bureau  in  its  campaign  to  "Make  a  job  for 
every  fighter."  The  chamber  of  commerce  sent  out  a  labor  ques- 
tionnaire to  every  manufacturing  establishment  of  the  city  pointing 
out  the  desirability  of  community  cooperation  in  this  work;  and,  as 
a  result  of  this  survey,  a  large  number  of  positions  were  listed.  The 
responses  to  the  letters  testified  that  St.  Louis  employers  were  keep- 
ing their  promises  to  reemploy  the  men.  The  chamber  of  commerce 
has  also  been  instrumental  in  bringing  about  the  release  from  the 
service  of  men  for  whom  positions  were  being  held  open  in  St.  Louis. 
The  advertising  club  and  other  civic  organizations  are  also  assist- 
ing in  this  work. — [Publication  of  the  St.  Louis  Chamber  of  Com- 
merce, February,  1919.] 

A  fund  has  been  established  by  the  St.  Louis  Advertising  Club 
to  maintain  the  bureau  for  replacing  soldiers,  sailors,  and  marines, 
which  would  otherwise  have  been  discontinued  or  greatly  curtailed 
through  the  failure  of  Congress  to  provide  any  appropriation  for 
the  Federal  employment  service  which  operates  the  bureau. — [Post- 
Dispatch,  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  Mar.  23, 1919.] 

A  soldiers',  sailors',  and  marines'  free  employment  bureau  will  be 
established  by  the  St.  Louis  Employers'  Association.  It  was  stated 
by  the  president  of  the  association  that  the  bureau  is  to  be  estab- 
lished to  meet  the  exigency  resulting  from  the  disorganization  of  the 
Federal  employment  service  due  to  Congress  failing  to  make  an 
appropriation  therefor.  "  St.  Louis  jobs  for  St.  Louis  boys  first " 
will  be  the  slogan  of  the  new  bureau,  which  will  endeavor  to  per- 
suade soldier  and  sailor  applicants  who  come  from  other  cities  or 
towns  to  return  to  their  homes,  and  if  necessary,  will  assist  them  fi- 
nancially to  do  so. — [Globe-Democrat,  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  Mar.  28,  1919.] 

The  St.  Louis  Chamber  of  Commerce  is  cooperating  with  the 
employers'  association  in  opening  an  employment  office  for  the  place- 
ment of  returning  soldiers.  With  the  new  bureau  in  full  operation, 
together  with  the  bureau  maintained  by  the  advertising  club,  it  is 


MISSOURI.  173 

expected  that  the  returning  soldiers  of  St.  Louis  will  be  amply 
cared  for. — [Publication  of  the  St.  Louis  Chamber  of  Commerce, 
April,  1919.] 
English  Language  in  Schools. 

House  bill  120,  which  failed  to  pass  in  the  State  legislature,  re- 
quired that  all  instruction  in  public  and  private  schools  in  the  State 
be  given  in  the  English  language,  and  that  all  textbooks  used  in 
such  schools  be  printed  in  the  English  language.  Also,  there  was 
pending  and  failed  to  pass  Senate  bill  70,  which  would  prohibit 
the  teaching  of  any  language  except  the  English  language  in  the 
public  schools  of  the  State. — [School  Life,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  the 
Interior,  Mar.  16,  1919.] 
Foreign  Trade. 

Plans  are  being  formulated  by  the  foreign-trade  bureau  of  the 
St.  Louis  Chamber  of  Commerce  for  a  $25,000,000  import  and  ex- 
port corporation.  The  establishment  of  a  branch  of  St.  Louis 
banks  in  Mexico  is  also  being  contemplated.  It  is  believed  that 
the  successful  formation  of  this  new  import  and  export  corpora- 
tion would  be  highly  desirable  now  because  of  the  passage  of  the 
bill  amending  the  antitrust  laws  so  as  to  permit  combinations  in 
connection  with  foreign  trade. — [Publication  of  the  St.  Louis  Cham- 
ber of  Commerce,  March,  1919.] 

The  members  of  the  legislature  unanimously  indorsed  the  pro- 
posal of  the  president  of  the  Mississippi  Valley  Trust  Co.  to  or- 
ganize a  discount  bank  in  St.  Louis,  with  a  capital  stock  of 
from  three  to  five  million  dollars,  to  bring  to  St.  Louis  a  huge  vol- 
ume of  foreign  trade.  Two  bills  will  be  introduced  immediately 
to  make  the  changes  in  the  banking  and  corporation  laws  which 
will  enable  State  banks  and  private  corporations  to  subscribe  not 
to  exceed  15  per  cent  of  capital  and  surplus  in  the  discount  banks. — 
[Globe-Democrat,  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  Mar.  12,  1919.] 
Highways. 

The  first  construction  work  to  come  out  of  the  program  for  post- 
war highways  transport  activities,  as  being  developed  by  the  High- 
ways Transport  Committee,  United  States  Council  of  National  De- 
fense, is  reported  from  the  northern  part  of  the  State,  where  the 
Missouri  division  of  the  Pike's  Peak  ocean-to-ocean  highway  has 
been  formally  designated  "  Pershing's  Transport  Route." — [Repub- 
lic, St.  Louis,  Mo.,  Dec.  2,  1918.] 

The  legislature  has  passed  a  bill  providing  for  a  vote  to  be  taken 
on  a  $60,000,000  bond  issue  to  be  used  for  the  improvement  of  high- 
ways. Various  counties  in  the  State  have  voted  on  county  issues 
of  bonds,  and  so  far  various  counties  have  authorized  the  expendi- 
ture of  approximately  $12,000,000  for  improvement  and  construc- 
tion of  county  roads. — [Laws  of  Missouri,  1919,  p.  757.] 


174       UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

On  October  1,  1919,  25  highway  projects  had  been  approved  in  the 
State,  involving  the  improvement  of  247.52  miles  of  road  at  a  total 
estimated  cost  of  $3,097,889.22,  of  which  the  Federal  Government 
is  requested  to  pay  $1,241,878.52  in  accordance  with  the  provisions 
of  the  Federal-aid  road  act  of  July  11,  1910,  as  amended  by  the  act 
of  February  28,  1919. — [Statement  prepared  by  Bureau  of  Public 
Koads,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture.] 
Housing  Accommodations. 

A  Missouri  Homestead  Commission,  to  promote  the  formation  of 
organizations  '*  to  increase  the  supply  of  wholesome  homes  for  me- 
chanics, factory  employees,  laborers,  and  others  in  cities  and  towns  " 
was  provided  in  a  bill  introduced  in  the  house  March  13,  but  which 
failed  to  pass.  The  commission  would  be  authorized  to  buy  tracts  of 
land  to  provide  homesteads  or  small  houses  and  plats  of  gromid  for 
wage  earners. — [Globe-Democrat,  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  Mar.  13,  1919.] 

As  a  result  of  the  ''Build-now"  campaign,  Kansas  City  has  made 
arrangements  for  the  construction  of  500  houses  at  prices  ranging 
from  $2,000  to  $5,000.  The  campaign  also  provides  for  the  im- 
provement of  many  of  the  poorer  tenement  houses. 

The  city  of  St.  Louis  has  evolved  a  plan  to  relieve  the  house  short- 
age and  beautify  the  city.  Six  blocks  of  dilapidated  tenements  are 
to  be  torn  dow^n,  and  upon  the  sites  there  are  to  be  erected  800  four 
and  five-room  apartments  and  200  two  and  three-room  apartments  at 
an  estimated  cost  of  $4,160,000,  for  grounds  and  buildings. — [Hous- 
ing Betterment,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  June,  1919.] 

The  Home  and  Housing  Association  of  St.  Louis  is  conducting  a 
campaign  to  raise  a  $2,000,000  fund  with  which  to  erect  niew  houses 
to  meet  the  demands  for  homes  resulting  from  the  city's  rapid  strides 
in  industrial  development. — [Globe-Democrat,  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  Oct. 
12,  1919.] 
Information  Service  for  Returned  Service  Men. 

The  local  branches  of  the  American  Red  Cross  are  cooperating 
with  other  organizations  in  establishing  contacts  with  service  men 
for  the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  adjustment  of  their  allotments, 
allowance  accounts,  compensation  and  claims,  and  the  reinstatement 
of  lapsed  or  canceled  insurance.  It  is  the  desire  of  the  Bureau  of 
AYar  Risk  Insurance  that  all  inquiries  of  this  nature  be  cleared 
through  the  home-service  sections  of  the  American  Red  Cross.  Up 
to  April  1,  1919,  the  American  Red  Cross  had  organized  in  Missouri 
398  units  with  a  total  of  392  workers. — [Statement  prepared  by 
American  National  Red  Cross  for  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
November,  1919.] 
Land  Settlement. 

The  State  legislature  has  passed  a  bill  providing  a  system  of  co- 
operation with  the  Federal  Government,  by  which  returned  soldiers 


MISSOURI. 


175 


may  acquire  with  State  and  Federal  aid  farm  lands  by  a  small  pay- 
ment with  a  loan  for  the  balance  covering  a  period  of  40  years.  The 
corresponding  constitutional  amendment  providing  a  revolving  fund 
of  $1,000,000  to  supply  State  moneys  for  the  undertaking  was  also 
passed  and  will  be  submitted  to  the  voters  of  the  State  in  November. 
Under  the  provisions  of  this  measure  no  soldier  is  to  have  more  than 
one  farm  and  no  farm  is  to  be  of  greater  value  than  $5,000.  A  mini- 
mum payment  of  2  per  cent  is  required,  the  owner  to  be  given  a  long 
time  to  iDay  the  remainder.  The  act  provides  for  an  appropriation  - 
of  $10,000  for  carrying  out  its  provisions. — [Laws  of  Missouri,  1919, 
p.  704.] 

Public  Works.   . 

Reports  received  in  January,  1919,  cover  108  public  building  and 
construction  projects  which  were  under  way  or  contemplated  in  the 
State,  aggregating  an  estimated  value  of  $98,910,000.  Of  this  num- 
ber, 50  were  street  improvements,  estimated  to  cost  $22,480,000:  14 
were  sewers,  estimated  to  cost  $15,265,000 ;  and  11  Avere  waterworks, 
estimated  to  cost  $11,370,000. — [Statistics  compiled  by  Division  of 
Public  Works  and  Construction  Developments,  U.  S-  Dept.  of  Labor, 
Apr.  17,  1919.] 

The  city  plan  committee  of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  of  St.  Louis, 
Avith  a  membership  of  75,  recently  voted  in  favor  of  a  $23,000,000 
bond  issue  for  city  improvements.  The  mayor  has  appointed  a  citi- 
zens' committee  of  25  members  to  act  with  city  officials  in  canvassing 
for  the  issue. — [American  City,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  19,  1919.] 

A  labor  movement  is  Ijehind  the  passage  of  a  bill  for  a  $23,000,000 
bond  issue  for  the  improvement  of  St.  Louis  in  reconstruction  work. 
It  is  determined,  also,  that  structures,  streets,  etc.,  shall  be  put  in 
lawful  and  safe  condition. — [Letter  from  secretary,  leg.  com.  central 
trades  and  labor  information  to  LT.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
Jan.  20,  1919.] 

Extensive  plans  have  been  undertaken  by  St.  Louis  for  city  better- 
ment; $93,972,000  have  been  appropriated  for  that  purpose. — 
[Globe-Democrat,  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  Mar.  16,  1919.] 

Reconstruction  Committee. 

The  mayor  of  St.  Louis  has  announced  the  organization  of  a  re- 
construction committee,  divided  into  subcommittees  on  public  wel- 
fare, employment,  social  hygiene,  housing,  community  spirit,  w^aste, 
reclamation,  and  Americanization. — [Post-Dispatch,  St.  Louis,  Mq., 
Dec.  16,  1918.] 

A  bill  was  introduced  in  the  State  legislature  but  failed  to  pass 
providing  for  a  State  commission  of  reconstruction  and  Americani- 
zation known  as  the  Missouri  Commission  on  Americanization,  Edu- 
cation, and  Reconstruction. — [Gazette,  St.  Joseph,  Mo.,  Feb.  14, 
1919.] 


176       UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

School  Gardens. 

School  gardens  are  being  conducted  in  13  cities  and  towns,  the 
total  present  enrollment  in  the  State  being  33,700.  In  Kansas  City 
during  the  season  of  1919  there  were  3,350  children  enrolled. —  [Pre- 
pared from  material  furnished  by  U.  S.  School  Garden  Army  to 
U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Nov.  1,  1919.] 
Vocational  Education. 

An  appropriation  of  $205,800  has  been  made  for  vocational  educa- 
tion for  the  biennial  period  ending  December  31,  1921.    This  appro- 
priation entitles  the  State  to  receive  a  similar  amount  from  the  Fed- 
eral fund. — [Laws  of  Missouri,  1919,  p.  703.] 
Vocational  Reeducation  of  Disabled  Service  Men. 

St.  Louis  automobile  dealers  have  aided  wounded  soldiers  by  send- 
ing automobile  equipment,  parts,  etc.,  and  automobile  publications 
to  an  auto-mechanics  school  at  Camp  Sherman,  Ohio,  for  the  train- 
ing of  disabled  soldiers.  The  automobile  dealers  are  finding  places 
for  a  number  of  returned  soldiers,  particularly  those  who  have  been 
in  the  motor  transport  service. — [Globe-Democrat,  St.  Louis,  Mo., 
Mar.  2,  1919.] 

In  accordance  with  section  2  of  the  Federal  vocational  rehabilita- 
tion act  of  June  27,  1918,  as  amended  July  11,  1919,  arrangements 
had  been  made  up  to  October  25,  1919,  by  the  Federal  Board  for 
Vocational  Education  with  60  educational  institutions  in  the  State 
for  the  reeducation  of  service  men  to  overcome  the  handicap  of  dis- 
abilities incurred  in  the  service.  A  total  of  537  such  men  have  been 
sent  to  these  institutions  for  training.  Arrangements  have  also  been 
made  by  this  board  with  42  industrial  establishments  in  the  State 
whereby  the  latter  have  undertaken  to  train  a  total  of  48  disabled 
men. — [Compiled  from  statement  prepared  by  Rehabilitation  Divi- 
sion, Federal  Board  for  Vocational  Education.] 
Woman's  Committee. 

The  executive  committee  decided  to  dissolve  the  State  division  of 
the  Woman's  Committee  on  February  27;  the  departments  of  child 
welfare  and  patriotic  education  to  be  continued,  however,  at  least 
until  April  6.  A  motion  was  carried  that  the  food  chairmen  affiliate 
themselves  and  continue  their  work  through  the  pennanent  organiza- 
tion, which  in  the  counties  is  the  farm  bureau  and  in  the  towns  and 
cities  the  home  bureau. — [Minutes  of  meeting  of  executive  board, 
State  division  of  the  Woman's  Committee,  U.  S.  Council  of  National 
Defense,  Feb,  4,  1919.] 

MONTANA. 

Americanization. 

Provision  is  made  by  an  act  passed  by  the  legislature  for  the  es- 
tablishment by  school  districts  in  the  State,  of  Americanization 
schools  for  persons  over  16  years  of  age  in  which  shall  be  taught 


MONTANA.  177 

\ 

the  reading  and  writing  of  the  English  language,  American  history, 
principles  of  citizenship,  and  any  other  subjects  deemed  necessary 
for  the  Americanization  of  the  students  enrolled.  School  districts 
may  combine  in  establishing  such  schools. — [Laws  of  1919,  ch.  38.] 

The  city  of  Butte  maintains  a  school  with  an  enrollment  of  520 
members,  consisting  of  men  and  women  whose  ages  range  from  17 
to  59  years,  representing  28  nationalities.  The  school  is  in  session 
day  and  night,  for  five  days  a  week,  at  a  cost  of  20  cents  per  pupil 
per  session. — [Compiled  from  forthcoming  report  of  director  of 
citizenship  to  Commissioner  of  Naturalization,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor, 
1920.] 

Assistance  for  Service  Men. 

Chapter  41  of  the  sixteenth  legislative  assembly,  approved  Feb- 
ruary 21,  1919,  extends  the  privilege  of  admission  to  the  Soldiers' 
Home  of  Montana  to  the  veterans  of  the  war  with  Germany  and  Aus- 
tria.— [Information  Bureau,  American  National  Red  Cross,  Com- 
pendium Change  No.  117.] 

An  appropriation  of  $225,000  has  been  made  by  the  State  legis- 
lature (Laws  of  1919,  ch.  105)  for  use  in  promoting  the  welfare  of 
discharged  soldiers,  sailors,  and  marines.  The  distribution  of  funds 
is  entirely  at  the  discretion  of  a  veterans'  welfare  commission  ap- 
pointed for  the  purpose. — [Telegram  from  the  governor  to  U.  S. 
Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  21,  1919.] 

The  legislature  by  an  act,  approved  March  4,  appropriated 
$200,000,  to  be  raised  by  an  issue  of  bonds,  to  aid  discharged  soldiers 
to  get  employment  and  to  provide  for  their  education,  training, 
comfort,  and  physical  and  material  well-being. — [Laws  of  1919, 
ch.  105.] 

An  act,  approved  March  7,  provides  that  bodies  of  service 
men  must  not  be  buried  in  the  potter's  field,  and  allows  an  expendi- 
ture not  to  exceed  $100  for  each  such  body.  Montana  veterans  dying 
w^hile  temporarily  absent  from  the  State  also  come  under  the  pro- 
visions of  this  act. — [Laws  of  1919,  ch.  178.] 

•'  Back-to-School "  Drive. 

Much  literature  has  been  distributed  for  the  "  Back-to-school " 
drive.  Efforts  have  been  made  to  especially  interest  the  presidents 
of  156  parent-teacher  associations  in  Montana. — [Report  of  child 
conservation  section  of  the  Field  Division  to  U.  S.  Council  of  Na- 
tional Defense,  Oct.  1,  1919.] 

Council  of  Defense. 

State  council  of  defense,  under  the  law  which  created  it,  must 

continue  in  existence  for  three  months  after  the  treaty  of  peace 

has  been  signed.    Because  of  this  enactment,  the  council,  though  it 

has  practically  completed  its  work,  must  continue  as  an  organized 

134286**— 20 12 


178        UNITED  STATES  EEADJUSTMRNT  AlsD  KECONSTRUCTION. 

body  for  some  months. — [Letter  from  secretary,  State  council  of 
defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Dec.  9,  1918.] 

The  State  council  of  defense  is  inactive,  but  the  county  councils 
are  retained.  The  latter  cooperate  with  all  agencies  to  secure  the 
employment  of  discharged  men,  and  they  are  apprehending  deserters 
and  giving  legal  aid  Avhere  requested. — [Eeph^  from  State  council  of 
defense  to  questionnaire  of  the  Field  Division,  U.  S.  Council  of  Na 
tional  Defense,  June  28,  1919.] 
Employment. 

In  conjunction  with  the  Federal  employment  service  at  Great 
Falls,  the  soldiers'  and  sailors'  club  employment  bureau  is  being 
maintained,  and  these  two  agencies  working  jointly  are  having  good 
success  in  getting  needed  positions  for  ex-service  men, — [Tribune, 
Great  Falls,  Mont.,  Feb.  8, 1919.] 

The  replacement  campaign  being  carried  on  by  the  Federal  em- 
ployment service  to  get  returned  soldiers,  sailors,  and  war  workers 
back  m  their  old  jobs  is  proceeding  very  satisfactorily.  Letters  have 
been  sent  to  all  employers  in  Flathead  and  Lincoln  Counties  to  as- 
certain the  names  of  former  employees  w^ho  entered  the  service,  and 
the  names  of  those  now  filling  tlie  positions.  Inquiries  have  been 
made  as  to  the  disposition  of  employers  to  give  returning  soldiers 
their  old  jobs,  the  replies  to  which  indicate  that  the  employers  are 
willing  to  do  their  part. — [Tribune,  Great  Falls,  Mont.,  Feb.  12, 
1919.] 

Organizations  have  also  been  established,  composed  of  either  re- 
turned soldiers  or  civilians,  or  both,  for  the  purpose  of  securing  em- 
ployment for  returning  men. — [Telegram  from  State  council  of  de- 
ense  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  25,  1919.] 

Official  statement  of  labor  shortage  and  announcement  of  the 
leading  employers  of  the  State  that  their  demand  henceforth  will 
either  remain  stationary  or  increase,  shows  Montana  to  be  among 
the  few  States  where  unemployment  practically  does  not  exist.  The 
field  agent  for  Montana  of  the  Bureau  of  Crop  Estimates, 
with  headquarters  in  Missoula,  reports  labor  shortage  on  ranch  and 
farm.  Reports  to  the  State  commissioner  of  agriculture,  and  pub- 
licity, reveal  the  same  conditions.  Lewiston  press  reports  say  labor 
is  scarce,  and  the  Federal  emploj'ment  bureau  at  Helena  has  jobs  for 
which  thei-e  are  no  men,  while  Plains  reix)rts  that  tie  workers  can  not 
be  had,  although  wages  are  high.  The  employment  agencies  of  the 
numerous  World  War  veterans'  associations  in  the  State  report  no 
especial  difficulty  in  obtaining  work  for  returned  service  men. 
Where  the  veterans  do  not  get  back  their  old  places  they  obtain 
other  work.  Whether  the  railroads  Avill  employ  many  extra  men  this 
year  can  not  be  stated,  but  the  highway  projects  now  authorized  in- 
sures labor  for  a  large  number.     Other  projects,  in  addition,  are 


MONTANA.  179 

almost  certain  to  be  under  way  before  summer  sets  in. — [Post-Intel 
ligeneer,  Seattle,  Wash.,  May  3,  1919.] 

Employment  offices  maintained  in  Montana  by  the  Federal  Gov- 
ernment in  cooperation  with  State  and  local  organizations,  report 
that  during  the  six  months'  period  from  January  1  to  June  30,  1919, 
43.910  persons  were  registered  who  were  seeking  employment;  32,179 
requests  for  employees  were  received:  and  21,037  i)ersons  were 
placed  by  these  offices. — [Compiled  from  statistics  furnished  by 
V.  S.  Employment  Service,  Aug.  8,  1919.] 

The  War  and  Navy  Departments'  citations  have  been  issued  to  735 
firms  in  Montana,  these  employers  having  assured  the  War  and  Navy 
Departments  that  they  will  reemply  everybody  who  formerh^  worked 
with  them  and  left  to  serve  in  the  Army  and  Navy  during  the  World 
War. — [Memorandum  from  assistant  to  the  Secretary  of  War  in  the 
replacement  of  service  men  to  civil  life,  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National 
Defense,  Nov.  20,  1919.] 
Highways. 

An  act  was  approved  March  7  which  provides  for  submis- 
sion to  the  people  in  November  for  appi*oval  of  a  bond  issue  of 
$15,000,000  for  road-construction  purposes.— [Laws  of  1919,  ch.  169.1 

Several  counties  have  issued  or  will  issue  bonds  for  road-con- 
struction purposes,  among  which  are  the  following:  Yellowstone 
County,  $175,000  voted  inl91G,  but  one-half  of  which  is  at  present  un- 
expended; Gallatin  County,  $100,000,  voted  in  November,  1918; 
Park  County  will  vote  on  a  $150,000  bond  issue  some  time  in  April 
or  May,  1919 ;  and  Sweet  Grass  County  will  vote  on  a  $100,000  bond 
issue  March  17,  1919. — [Bulletin  No.  40,  Highways  Transport  Com- 
mittee, IT.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense.] 

On  October  1, 1919^  47  highway  pix>jects  had  been  approved  in  the 
State,  involving  the  improvement  of  342.21  miles  of  road  at  a  total 
estimated  cost  of  $1,551,605.03  of  which  the  Federal  Government 
is  requested  to  pay  $766,052.48  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of 
the  Federal-aid  road  act  of  July  11,  1916,  as  amended  by  the  act 
of  February  28,  1919. — [Statement  prepared  by  Bureau  of  Public 
Roads,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture.] 

Ijiformation  Service  for  Returned  Service  Men. 

The  local  branches  of  the  American  Red  Cross  are  cooperating 
with  other  organizations  in  establishing  contacts  with  service  men 
for  the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  adjustment  of  their  allotments, 
allowance  accounts,  compensation  and  claims,  and  the  reinstatement 
of  lapsed  or  canceled  insurance.  It  is  the  desire  of  the  Bureau  of 
War  Risk  Insurance  that  all  inquiries  of  this  nature  be  cleared 
through  the  home-service  sections  of  the  American  Red  Cross.  Up 
to  April  1,  1919,  the  American  Red  Cross  had  organized  in  Montana 


180       UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

211  units  with  a  total  of  330  workers. — [Statement  prepared  by 
American  National  Ked  Cross  for  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
November,  1919.] 
Land  Settlement. 

Montana  has  a  vast  acreage  of  land  which  conld  well  be  given  to 
returning  soldiers.  To  this  end  the  lieutenant  governor  has  proposed 
that  the  United  States  donate  to  each  honorably  discharged  soldier  a 
scrip  for  40  acres  of  unoccupied  surveyed  Government  land. — [Chris- 
tian Science  Monitor,  Boston,  Mass.,  Feb.  13,  1919.] 

The  legislature  in  its  1919  session  provided  for  cooperation  with 
the  United  States  Government  in  soldier  land  settlement  and  created 
a  board,  consisting  of  the  attorney  general,  the  State  engineer, 
and  one  additional  salaried  member  who  is  to  be  chairman  of  the 
board,  to  carry  on  reclamation  and  settlement  work.  The  act  carried 
an  appropriation  of  $50,000. — [Laws  of  1919,  ch.  201.] 

Moratorium  for  Service  Men. 

Chapter  104,  sixteenth  legislative  assembly,  approved  March 
4,  1919,  prohibits,  under  penalty  of  double  damages,  the  foreclosure 
of  real  estate  or  chattel  mortgages  until  one  year  after  discharge  of 
service  men. — [Information  Bureau,  American  National  Red  Cross, 
Compendium  Change  No.  117.] 

Public  Works. 

Reports  received  in  January,  1919,  cover  31  public  building  and 
construction  projects  which  were  under  way  or  in  contemplation  in 
the  State,  aggregating  an  estimated  value  of  $4,515,000.  Of  this 
number  19  were  street  improvements,  estimated  to  cost  $3,140,000;  3 
were  waterworks,  estimated  to  cost  $750,000 ;  and  4  were  schools,  esti- 
mated to  cost  $240,000. — [Statistics  compiled  by  Division  of  Public 
Works  and  Construction  Developments,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor,  Apr. 
17,1919.] 

Rehabilitation  of  Disabled  Service  Men. 

The  State  university  will  be  used  as  one  of  the  stations  in  which 
work  of  rehabilitation  of  soldiers  and  sailors  will  be  carried  on  under 
the  direction  of  the  Federal  Board  for  Vocational  Education. — 
[Standard,  Anaconda,  Mont.,  Feb.  27,  1919.] 

School  Gardens. 

School  gardens  are  being  conducted  in  16  cities  and  towns,  the 
total  present  enrollment  in  the  State  being  23,963. — [Prepared  from 
material  furnished  by  U.  S.  School  Garden  Army  to  U.  S.  Council  of 
National  Defense,  Nov.  1,  1919.] 
Tax  Exemption  for  Service  Men. 

Under  chapter  14,  laws  of  the  fifteenth  legislative  assembly, 
extraordinary   session   1918,   the  collection   of   taxes   from   service 


NEBEASKA.  181 

4 

men  is  held  in  abeyance  by  the  filing  of  an  affidavit  with  the  county 
treasurer,  until  one  year  after  cessation  of  hostilities. — [Informa- 
tion Bureau,  American  National  Red  Cross,  Compendium  Change 
No.  117.] 

Vocational  Reeducation  of  Disabled  Service  Men. 

In  accordance  with  section  2  of  the  Federal  vocational  rehabilita- 
tion act  of  June  27,  1918,  as  amended  July  11,  1919,  arrangements 
had  been  made  up  to  October  25,  1919,  by  the  Federal  Board  for 
Vocational  Education  with  four  educational  institutions  in  the  vState 
for  the  reeducation  of  service  men  to  overcome  the  handicap  of  dis- 
abilities incurred  in  the  service.  A  total  of  13  such  men  have  been 
sent  to  these  institutions  for  training.  Arrangements  have  also  been 
made  by  this  board  with  two  industrial  establishments  in  the  State 
whereby  the  latter  have  undertaken  to  train  two  disabled  men. — 
[Compiled  from  statement  prepared  by  Rehabilitation  Division,  Fed- 
eral Board  for  Vocational  Education.] 

Welfare  of  Returned  Service  Men. 

The  legislature,  by  an  act  approved  February  14,  appropriated 
$25,000  for  the  purpose  of  welcoming  Montana  soldiers  at  ports  of 
entry  and  for  use  in  maintaining,  entertaining,  or  aiding  them  in 
their  return  to  the  State.— [Laws  of  1919,  ch.  262.] 

NEBRASKA. 

Aliens  in  Public  Service. 

By  an  enactment  of  this  session  of  the  legislature,  it  is  unlawful 
for  any  alien  to  hold,  by  appointment  or  otherwise,  any  public  official 
position;  and  it  is  made  unlawful  for  any  officer,  board,  or  commis- 
sion in  the  State,  or  any  subdivision  thereof,  including  school  boards, 
to  appoint  any  alien  to  any  office. — [Statement  submitted  by  the 
governor  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Aug.  9,  1919.] 

Americanization. 

The  Americanization  plan  was  carried  out  in  a  series  of  laws,  and 
one  of  the  measures  enacted  placed  all  private,  denominational,  and 
parochial  schools  and  all  teachers  there  employed  under  the  general 
school  laws  of  the  State  as  they  apply  to  grades,  qualification,  and 
certification  of  teachers.  This  law  provided  that  all  private,  denom- 
inational, and  parochial  schools  shall  give,  in  the  proper  grades,  such 
courses  in  American  history  and  civil  government  as  will  give  the 
pupils  therein  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  history  of  the  country 
and  its  institutions  and  of  the  form  of  government  of  both  thd 
United  States  and  of  the  State,  and  shall  conduct  such  patriotic  exer- 
cises as  may  be  prescribed  from  time  to  time  by  the  State  superin- 
tendent. 


182        UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

A  law  was  also  enacted  providing  that  no  j^erbon  shall  be  qualified, 
licensed,  or  permitted  to  teach  in  any  public,  private,  or  parochial 
school  unless  such  person  is  a  natural-born  or  fully  naturalized  citi- 
zen of  the  United  States. — [Statement  submitted  by  the  governor 
to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Aug.  9,  1919.]  ' 

Assistance  for  Service  Men  and  Their  Families. 

There  are  several  measures  pending  before  the  legislature  bearing 
upon  the  subjects  of  the  establishment  of  employment  bureaus  for 
returned  service  men,  land  grants  to  soldiers,  bonuses^  and  other 
measures  providing  assistance  for  the  returning  men. 

A  civilian  relief  committee  is  giving  assistance  to  families  of 
service  men  and  providing  legal  and  medical  aid  wherever  needed. 
It  is  believed  that  Omaha  will  be  able  to  take  care  of  all  returning 
soldiers  who  entered  the  service  from  that  city. — [Telegram  from 
mayor  of  Omaha  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  24, 
1919.] 

An  act,  approved  March  10,  provides  for  the  admission  to  the 
Nebraska  Soldiers'  and  Sailors'  Home  of  veterans  of  the  World 
War  who  are  disabled  and  unable  to  earn  a  livelihood  and  who 
would  be  dependent  upon  public  or  private  charities.  On  certain 
conditions  the  widows  and  mothers  of  such  veterans  are  also  ad- 
mitted under  the  terms  of  the  act. — [Laws  of  Nebi-aska,  1919.  ch. 
15T.] 
"  Back-to-School "  Drive. 

As  its  work  in  the  "Back-to-school"  drive,  the  committee  has 
vigorously  pushed  legislation  for  consolidated  nine  months^  rural 
schools,  better  salaried  teachers  and  more  of  them,  and  compulsory 
education  until  16  yeai-s  of  age. — [Report  of  child  conservation  sec- 
tion of  the  Field  Division  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
Oct.  1, 1918,  to  July  1,  1919.] 

Community  Houses. 

The  legislature  authorized  the  erection  by  counties,  townships, 
cities,  and  villages  of  statues  or  monuments  commemorating  the 
service  of  the  soldiers  in  the  Civil,  Spanish-American,  and  World 
Wars.  The  governor  has  recommended  in  his  speeches  throughout 
the  State  that  community  houses  or  homes  should  be  erected  under 
this  authorization.— [Statement  submitted  by  the  governor  to  U.  S. 
Council  of  National  Defense,  Aug.  9,  1919.] 

Council  of  Defense. 

The  State  council  of  defense  has  disbanded,  but  the  present  gov- 
ernor contemplates  the  creation  of  a  committee  or  the  appointment 
of  a  secretary  to  work  on  readjustment  activities. — [Lretter  from 
State  council  of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Jan. 
27,  1919.] 


KEBEASKA.  183 

Employment. 

Employment  offices  maintained  in  Nebraska  by  the  Federal  Gov- 
ermnent  in  cooperation  with  the  State  and  local  organizations,  report 
that  during  the  six  months'  period  January  1  to  June  30,  1919, 
21,120  persons  were  registered  who  were  seeking  emploj^ment; 
28,418  requests  for  employees  were  received ;  and  1G,6T0  persons  were 
placed  by  these  offices. — [Compiled  from  statistics  furnished  by 
IT.  S.  Employment  Service,  Aug.  8,  1919.] 

Citations  have  been  issued  by  the  United  States  War  and  Navy 
Departments  to  205  firms  in  the  State,  these  employers  having  as- 
sured the  departments  that  they  will  reemploy  every  returned  service 
man  who  formerly  worked  for  them  and  left  to  serve  in  the  Army 
or  Navy  during  the  AYorld  War. — [Memorandum  from  assistant  to 
Secretary  of  War  in  the  replacement  of  service  men  to  civil  life,  to 
U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Nov.  26, 1919.] 

Omaha  will  continue  its  free  employment  service  bureau  and,  in 
connection  with  the  chamber  of  commerce,  will  endeavor  to  pro- 
vide employment  for  all  returning  soldiers  and  sailors  who  formerly 
resided  in  that  city. — [Letter  from  mayor  of  Omaha  to  U.  S.  Coun- 
cil of  National  Defense,  Mar.  15,  1919.] 

The  city  of  Omaha,  in  connection  with  the  chamber  of  commerce 
and  welfare  board,  is  making  every  effort  to  reinstate  soldiers  in 
their  former  positions.  A  careful  survey  has  been  made  of  former 
employers,  and  the  chaniber  of  commerce  is  seeing  that  every  member 
of  that  organization  reinstates  former  employees  upon  their  return 
from  military  service. — [Telegram  from  mayor  of  Omaha  to  U.  S. 
Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  24,  1919.] 

Through  interviews  with  business  men  of  Omaha  and  cooperation 
with  the  United  States  Employment  Service  and  the  employment 
committee  of  the  chamber  of  commerce,  the  War  Camp  Community 
Service  was  able  to  secure  positions  for  returned  soldiers. — [Eeport 
of  War  Camp  Community  Service  for  U.  S.  Council  of  National 
Defense,  August,  1919.] 

The  legislature  passed  an  appropriation  under  which  a  joint  em- 
ployment agency  (Federal,  State,  commercial  clubs,  and  labor  or- 
ganizations) was  established  in  both  Lincoln  and  Omaha,  and  where 
special  attention  was  directed  to  finding  employment  for  returned 
soldiers. — [Statement  submitted  by  the  governor  to  U.  S.  Council  of 
National  Defense,  Aug.  9,  1919.] 

English  Language  at  Public  Meetings, 

The  legislature  provided  that  all  public  meetings  except  those 
held  for  the  purpose  of  religious  teaching,  instruction,  or  worship,  or 
lodge  organization  shall  be  conducted  in  the  English  language. — 
[Statement  submitted  by  the  governor  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National 
Defense,  Aug.  9,  1919.] 


184       UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

Foreign  Languages  in  Schools. 

A  measure  was  enacted  which  prohibits  the  teaching  of  any  sub- 
ject in  any  language  other  than  the  English  in  any  denomina- 
tional, parochial,  or  public  school.  Languages  other  than  English 
may,  however,  be  taught  as  languages  in  grades  above  the  eighth. — 
[Statement  submitted  by  the  governor  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National 
Defense,  Aug.  9,  1919.] 
Highways. 

On  October  1,  1919,  87  highway  projects  had  been  approved  in  the 
State,  involving  the  improvement  of  1,978.10  miles  of  road  at  a  total 
estimated  cost  of  $4,921,631.75,  of  which  the  Federal  Government  is 
requested  to  pay  $2,367,518.19  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of 
the  Federal-aid  road  act  of  July  11,  1916,  as  amended  by  the  act  of 
February  28,  1919. — [Statement  prepared  by  Bureau  of  Public 
Roads,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture.] 

The  legislature  created  a  State  highway  system  of  approximately 
4,000  miles  of  road  and  designated  its  location.  In  the  main,  this 
highway  system  connects  all  county  seats  of  the  State,  and  a  special 
3  mill  levy  was  appropriated  for  the  highway  fund. — [Statement 
submitted  by  the  governor  to  IT.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
Aug.  9,  1919.] 
Information  Service  for  Returned  Service  Men. 

The  local  branches  of  the  American  Red  Cross  are  cooperating 
with  other  organizations  in  establishing  contacts  with  service  men 
for  the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  adjustment  of  their  allotments, 
allowance  accounts,  compensation  and  claims,  and  the  reinstatement 
of  lapsed  or  canceled  insurance.  It  is  the  desire  of  the  Bureau  of 
War  Risk  Insurance  that  all  inquiries  of  this  nature  be  cleared 
through  the  home-service  sections  of  the  American  Red  Cross.  Up 
to  April  1, 1919,  the  American  Red  Cross  had  organized  in  Nebraska 
276  units  w^th  a  total  of  416  workers. — [Statement  prepared  by 
American  National  Red  Cross  for  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Def ense^ 
November,  1919.] 

Land  Settlement. 

A  soldier-settlement  bill  was  introduced  in  the  State  legislature, 
passed  by  the  house,  but  failed  of  passage  in  the  senate,  although  its 
passage  was  urged  by  the  governor. — [Memorandum  from  Reclama- 
tion Service,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  the  Interior  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National 
Defense,  July  1,  1919.] 

Loans  to  Service  Men. 

An  act  providing  for  welcoming  and  assisting  returned  Nebraska 
service  men  has  a  provision  authorizing  the  using  of  any  part  of  the 
sum  appropriated  as  a  revolving  loan  fund  to  soldiers,  sailors,  and 
marines  for  transportation  or  other  expenses. — [Laws  of  Nebraska, 
1919,  ch.  295.] 


NEBRASKA.  185 

Motor  Transport  Service. 

The  highways  transport  committee  of  Douglas  County  has  com- 
piled and  secured  the  adoption  of,  by  the  State  public  utility  com- 
mission, a  motor-express-route  tariif  sheet. — [Memorandum  from 
Highways  Transport  Committee,  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
July  23,  1919.] 

Notarial  Acts  Before  Army  Officers  in  Foreign  Countries. 

Under  the  terms  of  an  act,  approved  April  16,  the  acknowledg- 
ments of  legal  instruments,  the  attestation  of  documents,  the  ad- 
ministration of  oath,  and  other  notarial  acts  taken  in  foreign  places 
where  the  United  States  Army  may  be  serving,  before  an  officer  of 
the  Army  who  has  been  duly  authorized  by  the  laws  of  the  United 
States,  are  declared  legal,  valid,  and  binding. — [Laws  of  Nebraska, 
1919,  ch.  169.] 
Public  Works. 

Reports  received  in  January,  1919,  covered  45  public  building  and 
construction  projects  which  were  under  way  or  contemplated  in  the 
State,  aggregating  an  estimated  value  of  $7,545,000.  Of  this  number 
17  were  street  improvements,  estimated  to  cost  $5,155,000;  11  were 
schools,  estimated  to  cost  $465,000;  and  4  were  hospitals,  estimated 
to  cost  $1,200,000. — [Statistics  compiled  by  Division  of  Public  Works 
and  Construction  Developments,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor,  April  17, 
1919.] 
Revolutionary  Propaganda. 

A  measure  was  passed  which  prohibits  the  teaching  or  disseminat- 
ing of  information  inciting  to  crime  or  violence  for  industrial  or 
political  ends  or  for  profit,  and  forbids  the  holding  of  assemblages 
for  promoting  such  propaganda;  defines  criminal  syndicalism  as  a 
doctrine  which  advocates  crime,  violence,  arson,  destruction  of 
property,  or  sabotage  as  a  means  of  accomplishing  industrial  or 
political  purposes ;  declares  it  a  felony  to  suggest  or  teach  this  doc- 
trine or  counsel  injury  to  persons  for  such  purposes  or  for  profit,  or 
to  print,  publish,  or  circulate  any  reading  matter  suggesting  them, 
or  the  commission  of  any  crime,  damage,  or  destruction  to  property, 
or  injury  to  persons,  in  pursuance  thereof;  imposes  a  penalty  of  1 
to  10  years  in  the  penitentiary,  or  fine  of  not  more  than  $1,000,  or 
both.  The  owner,  lessee,  agent,  or  other  person  in  charge  of  any 
place,  building,  or  rooms  who  knowingly  permits  an  assemblage 
therein  of  the  kind  prohibited,  or  who  permits  such  use  of  it  to 
continue  when  notified  by  a  public  or  peace  officer  that  it  is  being  so 
used,  will  be  guilty  of  a  misdemeanor  and  liable  to  a  penalty  of  60 
days  to  1  year  in  jail,  or  $100  to  $500  fine,  or  both. — [Statement  sub- 
mitted by  the  governor  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Aug.  9, 
1919.J 


186        UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

School  Gardens. 

School  gardens  are  being  conducted  in  19  cities  and  towns,  the 
total  present  enrollment  in  the  State  being  6,557.  In  Lincoln  during 
the  fiscal  year  ending  June  30,  1919,  there  were  900  children  en- 
rolled.— [Prepared  from  material  furnished  by  U.  S.  School  Garden 
Army  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Nov.  1,  1919.] 

Transportation  of  Service  Men  to  Their  Homes. 

The  mayor  of  Omaha  urges  that  the  United  States  War  Depart- 
ment change  its  policy  of  giving  soldiers  transportation  money  and 
give  them  the  transportation  to  their  homes  instead. — [Telegram 
from  mayor  of  Omaha  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar. 
15,  1919.] 

Vocational  Education. 

The  legislature  passed  a  bill  authorizing  the  establishment  of  vo- 
cational schools  and  appropriated  $100,000  to  meet  the  appropria- 
tion of  the  Federal  Government. — [Statement  submitted  by  the  gov- 
ernor to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Aug.  9,  1919.] 

Vocational  Beeducation  of  Disabled  Service  Men. 

In  accordance  with  section  2  of  the  Federal  vocational  rehabilita- 
tion act  of  June  27,  1918,  as  amended  July  11,  1919,  arrangements 
had  been  made  up  to  October  25,  1919,  by  the  Federal  Board  for 
Vocational  Education  with  five  educational  institutions  in  the  State 
for  the  reeducation  of  service  men  to  overcome  the  handicap  for  dis- 
abilities incurred  in  the  service.  A  total  of  51  such  men  have  been 
sent  to  these  institutions  for  training.  Arrangements  have  also 
been  made  by  this  board  with  four  industrial  establishments  in  the 
State  whereby  the  latter  have  undertaken  to  train  four  disabled 
men. — [Compiled  from  statement  prepared  by  Eehabilitation  Divi- 
sion, Federal  Board  for  Vocational  Education.] 
Welfare  of  Returned  Service  Men. 

Under  an  act  of  the  legislature,  the  State  soldier  and  sailor  homes 
were  opened  to  honorably  discharged  soldiers  of  the  World  War 
who  have  been  residents  of  the  State  for  two  years. — [Statement 
submitted  by  the  governor  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
Aug.  9,  1919.] 

An  act  provides  for  an  appropriation  of  $15,000  to  be  used  in 
carrying  on  the  work  of  welcoming  and  assisting  Nebraska  soldiers, 
sailors,  and  marines.  An  additional  appropriation  of  $10,000  pro- 
vides for  a  general  fund  to  be  placed  at  the  disposal  of  the  governor 
to  be  used  in  meeting  emergencies  and  unforeseen  conditions  which 
may  arise  in  connection  with  this  work.  This  act  also  si>ecifically 
authorizes  a  Nebraska  Committee  in  New  York  City  to  carry  out 
plans  and  arrangements  under  this  act. — [Laws  of  Nebraska,  1919, 
eh.  295.] 


NEVADA.  187 

NEVADA. 

«  Back-to-School "  Drive. 

The  drive  has  been  done  in  a  thorough  manner.  The  State  school 
officers,  all  school-teachers,  and  women's  clubs  have  assisted  in  the 
work.  The  reports  indicate  that  there  are  very  few  children  of  the 
State  not  in  school. — [Eeport  of  child  conservation  section  of  the 
Field  Division  to  U.  S.  Council  of  ^^ational  Defense,  Oct.  1,  1918,  to 
July  1,  1919.] 
Council  of  Defense. 

Under  an  act,  approved  March  28,  1919,  the  State  council  of  de- 
fense was  legalized  and  made  a  permanent  organization.  One  if  its 
functions  will  be  to  cooperate  with  the  National  Government  in 
meeting  such  conditions  and  demands  as  may  arise  during  the  read- 
justment period. — [Laws  of  Nevada,  29th  sess,,  ch.  173.] 
Employment.  i 

Speaking  before  the  community  betterment  conference  of  the 
Young  Men's  Christian  Association  at  Reno,  the  governor  declared 
that  a  serious  employment  problem  in  the  State  had  been  solved  by 
the  rise  of  silver  and  the  mining  boom  at  Divide  and  other  points; 
that  ample  work  is  available  for  all  Nevadans;  and  that  while  only 
G99  mines  were  active  in  the  State  in  the  closing  months  of  the  war, 
fully  1,400  are  in  operation  at  present.  He  predicted  a  great  year 
of  prosperity  for  the  entire  State,  with  new  mining  and  agricultural 
enterprises  providing  much  new  work  for  returning  soldiers  and 
civilians  released  from  other  industrial  pursuits. — [Bee,  Sacramento, 
Calif.,  May  16,  1919.] 

Employment  offices  maintained  in  Nevada  by  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment in  cooperation  with  State  and  local  organizations,  report  that 
during  the  six  months'  period,  January  1  to  June  30,  1919,  3,862 
persons  were  registered  who  were  seeking  employment;  4,706  re- 
quests for  employees  were  i-eceived;  and  3,278  persons  were  placed 
by  these  offices. — [Compiled  from  statistics  furnished  by  U.  S.  Em- 
ployment Service,  Aug.  8,  1919.] 

Citations  have  been  issued  by  the  United  States  War  and  Navy 
Departments  to  82  firms  in  the  State,  these  employers  having  as- 
sured the  departments  that  they  will  reemploy  every  returned  service 
man  who  formerly  worked  for  them  and  left  to  serve  in  the  Army  or 
Navy  during  the  World  War. — [Memorandum  from  assistant  to  the 
Secretary  of  War  in  the  replacement  of  service  men  to  civil  life,  to 
IT.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Nov.  20,  1919.] 

Foreign  Languages  in  Schools. 

Under  the  terms  of  the  law  enacted  at  the  h\st  session  of  the  legis- 
lature, the  teaching  of  any  subject,  other  than  foreign  languages,  in 
tJie  public  or  private  schools  in  the  State  except  in  the  English  Ian- 


188       UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

guage  is  prohibited.    A  penalty  is  provided  for  violation  of  the  act.— 
[Laws  of  Nevada,  29th  sess.,  ch.  133.] 

Highways. 

The  last  session  of  the  legislature  passed  a  bill  providing  for  the 
issuance  of  bonds  to  the  amount  of  $1,000,000  for  highway  purposes. 
Additional  bills  were  passed  authorizing  various  counties  to  issue 
bonds  for  the  construction  and  maintenance  of  highways  aggregating 
approximately  an  additional  $1,300,000. — [Laws  of  Nevada,  29th 
sess.,  ch.  172.] 

On  October  1,  1919,  23  highway  projects  had  been  approved  in  the 
State,  involving  the  improvement  of  243.07  miles  of  road  at  a  total 
estimated  cost  of  $1,475,193.51,  of  which  the  Federal  Government  is 
requested  to  pay  $720,451.15  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the 
Federal-aid  road  act  of  July  11,  1916,  as  amended  by  the  act  of  Feb- 
ruary 28,  1919. — [Statement  prepared  by  Bureau  of  Public  Roads, 
U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture.] 

Information  Service  for  Eetnrned  Service  Men. 

The  local  branches  of  the  American  Red  Cross  are  cooperating 
with  other  organizations  in  establishing  contacts  with  service  men 
for  the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  adjustment  of  their  allotments, 
allowance  accounts,  compensation  and  claims,  and  the  reinstatement 
of  lapsed  or  canceled  insurance.  It  is  the  desire  of  the  Bureau  of 
War  Risk  Insurance  that  all  inquiries  of  this  nature  be  cleared 
through  the  home-service  sections  of  the  American  Red  Cross.  Up 
to  April  1,  1919,  the  American  Red  Cross  had  organized  in  Nevada 
34  units  with  a  total  of  80  workers. — [Statement  prepared  by 
American  National  Red  Cross  for  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
November,  1919.] 
Land  Eeclamation. 

An  act  has  been  passed  creating  a  reclamation  and  land-settle- 
ment fund  of  $1,000,000  to  be  expended  by  a  State  reclamation  and 
settlement  board  in  providing,  improving,  and  equipping  rural  homes 
for  soldiers,  sailors,  marines,  and  others  who  served  in  the  armed 
forces  of  the  United  States  in  the  European  and  other  wars,  and  for 
other  loyal  citizens.  The  use  of  this  fund  is  conditional  upon  an 
allotment  to  the  State  by  the  Federal  Government  of  at  least  an 
equal  amount. — [Laws  of  Nevada,  29th  sess.,  ch.  191.] 

Preference  to  Returned  Service  Men  in  Public  Employment. 

Preference  will  be  given  to  honorably  discharged  service  men  on 
all  public  construction  within  the  State,  according  to  the  terms  of  a 
bill  passed  by  the  last  session  of  the  legislature.  This  bill  further 
provides  that  no  person  who  has  not  declared  his  intention  to  be- 
come a  citizen  of  the  United  States  shall  be  employed  on  any  public 


NEW   HAMPSHIRE.  189 

construction  work  in  the  State,  but  it  does  not  prevent  the  working 
of  aliens  who  have  not  forfeited  their  right  to  citizenship  by  claiming 
exemption  from  military  service,  as  common  laborers  in  the  construc- 
tion of  public  roads  when  it  can  be  shown  that  citizens,  wards  of  the 
United  States,  or  persons  who  have  declared  their  intention  to  become 
citizens  are  not  available  for  such  employment. — [Laws  of  Nevada, 
29th  sess.,  ch.  168.] 
Public  Works. 

Reports  received  in  January,  1919,  cover  three  projects  of  street 
improvements,  estimated  to  cost  $1,860,000. — [Statistics  compiled  by 
Division  of  Public  Works  and  Construction  Developments,  U.  S. 
Dept.  of  Labor,  Apr.  IT,  1919.] 
Rehabilitation  of  Physically  Handicapped  Persons. 

An  act  of  the  legislature,  approved  March  28,  provides  for  coopera- 
tion by  the  State  with  the  Federal  Government  in  the  rehabilitation 
of  persons  disabled  in  industry  or  otherwise,  and  their  return  to  safe 
employment.  The  State  board  of  education  is  given  the  authority 
to  act  for  the  State  with  the  Federal  Board  for  Vocational  Education. 
The  sum  of  $10,000  is  appropriated  for  the  biennial  period,  beginning 
July  1,  1919,  to  meet  the  provisions  of  the  act. — [Laws  of  Nevada, 
29th  sess.,  ch.  182.] 
School  Gardens. 

School  gardens  are  being  conducted  in  5  cities  and  towns,  the 
total  present  enrollment  in  the  State  being  3,365.  In  Reno  during 
the  fiscal  year  ending  June  30,  1919,  there  were  1,730  children  en- 
rolled.— [Prepared  from  material  furnished  by  U.  S.  School  Gar- 
den Army  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Nov.  1,  1919.] 
Vocational  Reeducation  of  Disabled  Service  Men. 

In  accordance  with  section  2  of  the  Federal  vocational  rehabilita- 
tion act  of  June  27,  1918,  as  amended  July  11,  1919,  arrangements 
had  been  made  up  to  October  25,  1919,  by  the  Federal  Board  for 
Vocational  Education  with  an  educational  institution  in  the  State 
for  the  reeducation  of  service  men  to  overcome  the  handicap  of  dis- 
abilities incurred  in  the  service.  One  such  man  has  been  sent  to  this 
institution  for  training.  Arrangements  have  also  been  made  by  this 
board  with  an  industrial  establishment  in  the  State  whereby  the 
latter  has  undertaken  to  train  a  disabled  man. — [Compiled  from 
statement  prepared  by  Eehabilitation  Division,  Federal  Board  for 
Vocational  Education.] 

NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

Americanization. 

The  governor  has  appointed  a  State  commission  to  have  full 
charge  of  the  execution  of  the  provisions  of  the  State  Americaniza- 
tion and  educational  law  which  went  into  effect  May  1.    Under  this 


190        UNITED  STATES  TvEADJUSTMlLKT   AND  r^ECONSTRUCTIOK. 

law  adults,  and  in  some  cases  those  between  the  ages  of  IG  and  21 
years,  who  ai-e  unable  to  nse  tlie  Engli&h  language  are  obliged  to 
attend  Americanization  schools;  tuid  after  October  1  employers  will 
be  forbidelen  to  employ  persons  who  have  not  enrolled  themselves  in 
snch  schools,  and  who  c^n  not  produce  an  enrollment  certificate  upon 
accepting  employment.  A  minimum  school  year  of  3G  weeks  is 
established.  Appropriations  were  voted  by  the  legislature  to 
abolish  illiteracy,  Americanize  the  non-English  speaking  resi- 
dents, equalize  educational  opportunities,  aid  dependent  motliers, 
and  otherwise  elevate  the  educational  standards  of  the  State. — 
[Clieistian  Science  Monitor^  Boston,  Mass.,  May  5,  1919.] 

The  State  Americanization  commission  has  done  considerable  work. 
Twenty-eight  communities  in  the  State  are  organized,  and  a  com- 
plete factory  censor  of  non-English-speaking  foreigners  has  been 
taken.  Legislation  provides  for  an  assistant  superintendent  of 
education  to  have  cliargc  of  illiteracy  and  Americanization,  also  for 
stifficient  funds  to  c^rry  on  this  work., — [Memorandum  from  Ameri- 
ciinization  division,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  the  Interior  to  U.  S.  Coimcil  of 
National  Defense,  July  2a,  1919.] 

To  put  into  operation  the  new  State  Ajnericanization  law  the 
State  commission  has  notified  every  corporation  and  partnership  and 
private  employer  employing  any  considerable  number  of  persons, 
that  each  such  miit  should  appoint  a  member  of  its  own  organization 
as  Americanization  agent  to  see  that  the  new  law  is  properly  exe- 
cuted, by  passing  upon  the  ability  of  every  employee  to  read  and 
Avrite  English. — [Christian"  Science  Monitor,  Boston,  Mass.^  Oct.  Ty 
1919.] 
Assistance  for  Service  Men. 

An  act,  approved  April  19,  1917,  extends  to  veterans  of  the  war 
with    Germany   the   privileges   of   the   New    Hampshire    Soldiers' 
Home. — [Information  Bureau,  American  National  Eed  Cross,  Com- 
pendium Change  No.  117.] 
Baniises  for  Service  IHTen. 

Under  an  act,  approved  March  28,  the  sum  of  $30  is  granted  to 
every  New  Hampshire  soldier  who  served  in  the  war  against  Ger- 
many. The  money  will  be  raised  by  special  taxes  designed  to  obtain 
$400,000  for  the  year  1919,  and  $200,000  for  the  year  1920.— [Laws 
of  New  Hampshire,  1919,  ch.  140.] 

The  legislature  has  provided  an  extra  boiiu's  of  $70,  making  $100 
in  all,  to  each  discharged  service  man. — [The  Home  Sector,  New 
York,  N.  Y.] 
Employment. 

1  he  Manchester  soldiers'  and  sailors'  relief  committee  has  launched 
a  campaign  to  secure  employment  for  returned  service  men.     The 


NEW   HAMPSHIRE.  191 

niiiYor  has  approved  appropriations  for  conducting  public  improve- 
ments in  Manchester  to  afford  employment  for  returned  soldiers. 
The  local  merchants  are  cooperating  with  the  United  States  Em- 
ployment Service  in  providing  work  for  the  men. — [Union,  Man- 
chester, K  H.,  Feb.  21,  1919.] 

A  canvass  of  the  returned  soldier  employment  situation  was  con- 
ducted in  the  State.  The  investigation  included  367  manufacturing 
establishments.  These  concerns  sent  4,671  men  into  the  service  and 
have  taken  back  to  work  4,306.  In  addition  272  men  who  were  not 
previously  employed  have  received  jobs  with  these  plants.  At  the 
same  time  that  so  many  of  the  men  have  been  given  their  former 
jobs,  very  few  women  have  had  to  be  displaced.  A  similar  canvass 
was  made  of  164  mercantile  establishments.  They  had  205  men  in 
service  and  have  taken  back  184,  as  well  as  25  others  not  formerly 
employed  by  them.  Sixty-six  out  of  a  hundred  men  have  returned  to 
the  194  farms  included  in  the  canvass. — [Enterprise,  High  Point, 
N.  C,  Feb.  26,  1919.] 

Employment  offices  nmintained  in  New  Hampshire  by  the  Federal 
Government  in  cooperation  with  State  and  local  organizations  report 
that  during  the  six  months'  period  January  1  to  June  30,  1919, 
25,275  persons  were  registered  who  were  seeking  employment;  19,941 
requests  for  employees  were  received ;  and  14,557  persons  were  placed 
by  these  offices. — [Compiled  from  statistics  furnished  by  U.  S.  Em- 
ployment Service,  Aug.  8,  1919.] 

Citations  have  been  issued  by  the  United  States  War  and  Navy 
Departments  to  291  firms  in  the  State,  these  employers  having  assured 
the  departments  that  they  will  reemploy  every  returned  service 
man  who  formerly  worked  for  them  and  left  to  serve  in  the  Army 
or  Navy  during  the  World  War. — [Memorandum  from  assistant  to 
Secretary  of  AVar  in  the  replacement  of  service  men  to  civil  life,  to 
U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Nov.  20,  1919.] 
Foreign  Languages  in  Schools. 

An  educational  law  which  provides  for  the  supervision  of  all 
schools  in  the  State  went  into  effect  May  1.  The  governor  has  ap- 
pointed a  State  commission  to  have  full  charge  of  the  execution  of 
the  provisions  of  the  new  law.  English  must  be  used  exclusively  in 
private  as  well  as  public  schools  for  general  instruction  and  adminis- 
tration.— [Christian  Science  Monitor,  Boston,  Mass.,  May  5, 1919.] 

Highways. 

An  act,  approved  March  28,  provides  for  the  establishment  of  an 
additional  system  of  cross- State  highways. 

Under  a  joint  resolution,  approved  March  26,  the  sum  of  $500,000 
was  appropriated  for  use  during  the  years  ending  August  31,  1920, 
and  August  31,  1921,  in  completing  several  highway  trunk  lines,  in 


192        UNITED  STATES  KE ADJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

the  construction  of  certain  cross-State  roads  previously  disregarded, 
and  in  securing  Federal  aid. — [Laws  of  New  Hampshire,  1919,  chs. 
118,  189.] 

On  October  1,  1919,  80  highway  projects  had  been  approved  in  the 
State,  involving  the  improvement  of  108.57  miles  of  road  at  a  total 
estimated  cost  of  $1,328,110.59,  of  which  the  Federal  Government  is 
requested  to  pay  $662,555.14  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of 
the  Federal-aid  road  act  of  July  11,  1916,  as  amended  by  the  act  of 
February  28,  1919. — [Statement  prepared  by  Bureau  of  Public 
Roads,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture.] 
Information  Service  for  Returned  Service  Men. 

The  local  branches  of  the  American  Red  Cross  are  cooperating 
with  other  organizations  in  establishing  contacts  with  service  men 
for  the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  adjustment  of  their  allotments, 
allowance  accounts,  compensation  and  claims,  and  the  reinstatement 
of  lapsed  or  canceled  insurance.  It  is  the  desire  of  the  Bureau  of 
AVar  Risk  Insurance  that  all  inquiries  of  this  nature  be  cleared 
through  the  home-service  sections  of  the  American  Red  Cross.  Up 
to  April  1,  1919,  the  American  Red  Cross  had  organized  in  New 
Hampshire  172  units  with  a  total  of  171  workers. — [Statement  pre- 
pared by  American  National  Red  Cross  for  U.  S.  Council  of  Na- 
tional Defense,  November,  1919.] 
Land  Settlement. 

In  connection  with  the  soldier-settlement  plan  of  the  United  States 
Department  of  the  Interior,  it  has  been  ascertained  that  New  Hamp- 
shire has  2,000  idle  farms  which  could  be  bought  for  less  than  the 
cost  of  the  buildings  thereon.  There  is  much  land  in  the  State  avail- 
able for  reclamation. — [Christian  Science  Monitor,  Boston,  Mass., 
Jan.  11,  1919.] 
Public  Works. 

Reports  received  in  January,  1919,  cover  29  public  building  and 
construction  projects  which  were  under  way  or  contemplated  in  the 
State,  aggregating  an  estimated  value  of  $1,285,000.  Of  this  num- 
ber 6  were  street  improvements,  estimated  to  cost  $1,025,000;  and 
3  were  schools,  estimated  to  cost  $1,285,000. — [Statistics  com- 
piled by  Division  of  Public  Works  and  Construction  Developments, 
U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor,  Apr.  17,  1919.] 
Reconstruction  Convention. 

A  State  convention  of  manufacturers,  labor  leaders,  and  farmers 
has  been  called,  under  the  direction  of  the  New  Hampshire  Manu- 
facturers' Association,  to  consider  problems  of  readjustment  when 
peace  comes.  The  association  urges  all  classes  to  help  build  up  the 
rural  districts  of  the  State,  which  have  been  declining  during  the 
20  years  preceding  the  war.    The  program  calls  for  assistance  from 


NEW   JERSEY.  193 

tlie  women's  clubs,  the  United  States  Employment  Service,  the  State 
l)iiblic  safety  committee,  farmers'  representatives,  boards  of  trade, 
and  the  bankers'  association. — [Christian  Science  Monitor,  Boston, 
Mass.,  Nov.  1,  1918.] 
Revolutionary  Propaganda. 

The  senate  passed  an  act  which  forbids  the  holding  of  meetings 
or  the  organization  of  associations  for  the  purpose  of  attempting 
to  change  the  Government  "  by  force  or  unlawful  means  in  the  United 
States  or  in  this  State."  For  circulation  of  literature  or  pictures  of 
a  revolutionary  character  a  penalty  of  not  more  than  $5,000  finej 
or  not  more  than  two  years'  imprisonment,  or  both,  is  provided. — 
[Public  Ledger,  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  Mar.  28,  1919.] 
School  Gardens. 

School  gardens  are  being  conducted  in  136  cities  and  towns,  the 
total  present  enrollment  in  the  State  being  36,656.  In  Manchester 
during  the  fiscal  year  ending  June  30,  1919,  there  were  3,565  children 
enrolled. — [Prepared  from  material  furnished  by  U.  S.  School  Gar- 
den Army  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Nov.  1,  1919.] 
Tax  Exemption  for  Service  Men  and  Their  Widows. 

An  act,  approved  March  5,  exempts  soldiers  and  sailors  disabled  in 
the  war  w^ith  Germany  and  their  widows  from  paying  the  license 
fees  required  for  haw^kers  and  peddlers. — [Laws  of  New  Hampshire, 
1919,  ch.  24.] 
Vocational  Reeducation  of  Disabled  Service  Men. 

In  accordance  w^ith  section  2  of  the  Federal  vocational  rehabilita- 
tion act  of  June  27,  1918,  as  amended  July  11,  1919,  arrangements 
had  been  made  up  to  October  25,  1919,  by  the  Federal  Board  for 
Vocational  Education  wdth  tw^o  educational  institutions  in  the  State 
for  the  reeducation  of  service  men  to  overcome  the  handicap  of  dis- 
abilities incurred  in  the  service.  Five  such  men  have  been  sent  to 
these  institutions  for  training.  Arrangements  have  also  been  made 
b,y  this  board  with  four  industrial  establishments  in  the  State 
whereby  the  latter  have  undertaken  to  train  four  disabled  men. — 
[Compiled  from  statement  prepared  by  Rehabilitation  Division,  Fed- 
eral Board  for  Vocational  Education.] 

NEW  JERSEY. 

Americanization. 

The  State  council  of  defense  has  formulated  a  definite  program 
to  be  carried  out  relative  to  Americanization.  If  it  is  found  neces- 
sary the  State  division  of  the  Woman's  Committee,  Unitel  States 
Council  of  National  Defense,  will  take  up  the  work. — [Letter  from 
State  division  of  the  Woman's  Committee  to  U.  S.  Council  of  Na- 
tional Defense,  Jan.  17,  1919.] 

134286°— 20 13 


194       UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

Comprehensive  and  systematic  plans  for  the  Americanization  of 
Kew  Jersey's  foreign  element  have  been  approved  by  the  Secretiiry 
of  the  Interior.  The  first  step  in  the  program  will  be  the  appoint- 
ment of  a  State  Americanization  committee,  or  board,  to  which  will 
be  delegated  the  authority  and  activities  of  the  United  States  De- 
partment of  the  Interior  in  all  Americanization  matters.  The  State 
committee,  or  board,  will  consist  of  representatives  from  the  various 
departments  and  organizations  within  the  State  which  are  already 
at  work  upon  some  phase  of  the  Americanization  program,  and  will 
include  representatives  of  the  State  department  of  education.  State 
boards  of  immigi'ation  or  Americanization,  the  State  federation  of 
labor,  the  State  chamber  of  commerce  or  manufacturers'  association, 
the  racial  organizations,  the  State  council  of  defense,  the  women's 
organizations,  and  such  philanthropic  and  patriotic  organizations 
and  institutions  as  may  be  interested.  The  task  of  this  State  board 
will  be  twofold :  First,  to  coordinate  and  harmonize  all  of  the  forces 
Avithin  the  State;  and  second,  to  organize  the  communities  upon  the 
same  lines  as  the  State  has  been  organized.  The  trade-unions,  the 
council  of  defense,  the  chamber  of  commerce,  the  Young  Men's  Chris- 
tian Association,  the  Young  Women's  Christian  Association,  the 
Knights  of  Columbus,  the  Hebrew  associations,  school  officials  and 
teachers,  churches  and  church  clubs,  women's  patriotic  and  social 
organizations,  boy  and  girl  scouts,  the  city  and  county  officials,  the 
racial  organizations,  the  manufacturers'  and  any  other  organizations 
and  societies  which  can  effectively  forward  the  program,  will  all 
be  a  part  of  the  body  which  will  undertake  to  see  that  a  definite  pro- 
gram of  Americanization  is  carried  out  within  their  community. 
Included  in  the  program  suggested  to  county  committees  will  be  the 
encouragement  of  community  centers  in  the  schools ;  education  of  the 
adults  in  night  schools,  in  the  industries,  and  in  the  various  philan- 
thropic and  social  organizations;  the  organization  of  foreign-born 
people  themselves  to  assist  in  the  program;  the  cultivation  of  per- 
sonal contact  in  the  homes;  the  education  of  the  native  born  for  a 
more  sympathetic  and  tolerant  treatment  and  understanding  of  the 
foreign  born  and  their  problems;  betterment  of  living  and  housing 
conditions;  increased  work  for  public  health;  protection  from  ex- 
ploitation and  imposition;  assistance  in  employment;  cultivation  of 
thrift,  etc.— [Star-Eagle,  Newark,  N.  J.,  Mar.  20, 1919.] 

Schools  for  the  foreigners  are  being  conducted  in  several  cities 
of  the  State  with  an  increase  in  the  appropriation  for  next  year. 
The  aliens  consider  the  evening  school  as  a  short  cut  to  securing 
their  naturalization  papers.  At  Newark  the  playgrounds  are  used 
as  a  means  of  attracting  the  young  men  of  foreign  birth  to  the 
night   schools. — [Compiled    from    forthcoming   report    of    director 


NEW   JERSEY.  195 

of  citizenship  to  Commissioner  of  Naturalization,  U.  S.  Dept.  of 
Labor,  1920.] 

Assistance  for  Service  Men  and  Their  Families. 

In  Newark  tlie  American  Red  Cross,  War  Camp  Community 
Service,  Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  Young  Women's 
Christian  Association,  Knights  of  Cohimbus,  and  other  organiza- 
tions take  care  of  any  immediate  temporary  wants  of  discharged 
soldiers  and  sailors. — [Letter  from  mayor  of  Newark  to  U.  S. 
Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  21,  1919.] 

The  legal  committee  of  the  State  council  of  defense  has  appointed 
local  committees  throughout  the  State  for  the  purpose  of  furnish- 
ing legal  advice.  The  home-service  sections  of  the  American  Red 
Cross  are  rendering  general  assistance  in  such  matters  as  furnishing 
advice  and  are  directly  aiding  in  the  rehabilitation  of  homes.  They 
are  prepared  to  give  advice  on  all  matters  except  those  of  a  technical 
legal  nature.  The  American  Red  Cross  is  also  rendering  assistance 
to  relatives  and  dependents  of  enlisted  men  where  aid  is  needed, 
supplementary  to  that  furnished  by  the  Government  under  the  war- 
risk  insurance  law  and  in  emergency  cases  pending  the  receipt  of 
aid  from  the  Government. — [Letter  from  secretarj^.  State  council 
of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  25,  1919.] 

An  act,  approved  April  11,  provides  for  the  burial  of  all 
soldiers,  sailors,  or  marines  discharged  from  any  wars  of  the  United 
States  who  shall  die  without  leaving  money  to  pay  funeral  ex- 
penses. The  funeral  expenses  are  not  to  exceed  $100. — [Laws — New 
Jersey,  1919,  ch.  12G.] 

*'  Back-to-School  "  Drive. 

Owing  to  the  termination  of  its  w^ar  activities,  the  State  division 
of  the  Woman's  Committee,  United  States  Council  of  National  De 
fense,  has  decided  to  begin  at  once  and  continue  until  July  of  next 
year  in  the  back-to-school  work,  which  is  to  get  the  pupils  who  left 
school  during  the  war  to  return  and  to  have  pupils  in  the  schools 
continue  their  studies  as  long  as  they  can.  The  work  will  be  car- 
ried on  under  an  appropriation  made  by  the  last  legislature. — [Her- 
ald, Passaic,  N.  J.,  May  27,  1919.] 

The  "  Back-to-school "  drive  was  turned  over  to  the  New  Jersey 
Congress  of  Mothers,  Avith  its  numerous  parent-teacher  associations. 
The  aim  is  to  form  a  "  Back-to-school "  committee  of  men  and 
women  in  every  school  district,  who  will  feel  personally  interested 
in  the  welfare  of  every  child  in  the  community.  The  committee 
will  interest  itself  in  the  supervision  of  the  child  in  industry  and 
in  advising  with  children  in  their  choice  of  occupation. — [Report  of 
child  conservation  section  of  the  Field  Division  to  U.  S.  Council  of 
National  Defense,  Oct.  1,  1918,  to  July  1,  1919.] 


196        UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT   AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

**  Buy-Now  "  Campaign. 

The  State  council  of  defense  has  requested  the  local  councils  of 
defense  to  cooperate  in  the  "  Buy-now  "  campaign  which  was  in- 
augurated by  the  United  States  Council  of  National  Defense,  at 
the  request  of  the  Secretary  of  Commerce. — [Copy  of  letter  from  sec- 
retary, State  council  of  defense  to  chairman  of  local  councils  of 
defense,  Mar.  18,  1919.] 

Practical  results  have  been  obtained  from  the  "  Buy-only-what- 
you-need-but-buy-it-now  "  campaign,  carried  on  in  New  Jersey  by 
the  State  council  of  defense.  Active  and  effective  cooperation  was 
obtained  from  various  commercial  organizations  in  carrying  out 
this  campaign.  Newspapers  and  local  business  men  were  also  in- 
strumental in  its  success. — [Letter  from  secretary,  State  council  of 
defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  May  20,  1919.] 
Council  of  Defense. 

The  State  council  of  defense  is  cooperating  with  the  United  States 
Emploj-ment  Service  in  relation  to  the  establishment  of  temporary 
employment  bureaus  for  returning  soldiers  and  sailors.  Alread}^  14 
of  these  bureaus  have  been  established,  these  being  in  addition  to  tho 
permanent  Federal-State-Municipal  employment  offices  in  New  Jersey, 
The  State  council  of  defense  is  also  interested  in  an  Americanization 
program  v/hich  is  in  process  of  being  completed,  and  this  organiza- 
tion has  also  been  quite  active  in  calling  to  the  attention  of  the 
municipal  officials  of  the  State  the  desirability  of  stimulating  needed 
public  improvements  at  this  time. — [Letter  from  secretary.  State 
council  of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  14, 
1919.] 

The  State  legislature  of  1919  has  provided  for  the  continuance  of 
the  work  of  the  State  council  of  defense  for  the  fiscal  year  ending 
Jime  30,  1920.  An  appropriation  of  $10,000  has  been  made  to  this 
department.  The  State  council  of  defense  is  to  receive  $6,000,  for 
the  coming  year,  and  the  State  division  of  the  Woman's  Committee 
the  remainder. — [Letter  from  secretary.  State  council  of  defense  to 
U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  May  19,  1919.] 

The  State  council  of  defense  has  conducted  a  State-wide  campaign 
to  bring  to  the  attention  of  disabled  soldiers  and  sailors  the  benefits 
of  the  Federal  vocational  education  act,  including  information  in 
regard  to  the  special  advisers  for  disabled  men  in  the  various  coun- 
ties. Plans  for  a  State  conference  on  Americanization  are  under  con- 
sideration by  the  council.  The  council  is  helping  the  Federal  em- 
ployment service,  is  giving  free  legal  aid  to  soldiers  through  the 
home-service  sections  of  the  American  Red  Cross,  and  is  aiding  the 
apprehension  of  deserters.  Local  councils,  composed  of  local  mu- 
nicipal authorities  in  political  subdivisions,  are  cooperating  with  the 
State  council  of  defense.     These  municipal  councils  take  the  place 


NEW   JEESEY.  197 

of  county  and  community  councils. — [Reply  from  State  council  of 
defense  to  questionnaire  of  the  Field  Division,  IT.  S.  Council  of  Na- 
tional Defense,  June  23,  1919.] 
Employment. 

Reports  from  the  chiefs  of  various  State  departments,  in  response 
to  a  request  for  suggestions  as  to  the  best  method  of  securing  work 
for  returning  soldiers,  indicate  that  New  Jersey  is  well  prepared 
for  the  emergency.  Jobs  are  already  being  secured  for  returning 
troops  with  considerable  success. — [Times,  Bayonne,  N.  J.,  Dec. 
18,  1918.] 

Definite  plans  for  organization  of  State  agencies  to  obtain  em- 
ployment for  returned  soldiers  and  sailors  were  adopted  at  a  con- 
ference in  Trenton  of  the  governor,  the  commissioner  of  labor,  the 
commissioner  of  charities  and  corrections,  the  adjutant  general,  and 
the  commissioner  of  education.  The  bureaus  of  employment,  estab- 
lished by  the  United  States  Department  of  Labor  in  17  municipali- 
ties, wdll  handle  the  matter  of  unemployment. — [Times,  Trenton. 
N.  J.,  Dec.  20,  1918.] 

The  governor  has  issued  a  proclamation  calling  upon  the  mayors 
of  all  the  municipalities  in  the  State,  the  State  council  of  defense, 
community  labor  boards,  and  similar  organiaztions  which  have  been 
Avorking  on  v;ar  activities,  draft  boards,  the  State  militia  and  State 
militia  reserve,  school  authorities,  and  all  other  citizens  to  cooperate 
to  the  utmost  with,  the  State  government  in  finding  employment 
for  men  returning  from  military  and  naval  service,  to  the  end  that 
every  soldier  and  sailor,  whether  permanent  or  temporary  resident, 
be  advised  of  and  given  an  opportunity  to  take  advantage  of  facili- 
ties for  properly  reestablishing  himself  in  civil  life.  Inspecting 
forces  of  State  departments  are  deputized  personally  to  approach 
men  in  uniform  whenever  encountered  and  inquire  and  advise.  In 
municipalities  where  no  employment  bureau  is  established  the 
mayor  or  other  chief  executive  officer  is  designated  a  representative 
of  the  State  government  for  the  purpose. — [News,  Newark,  N.  J., 
Dec.  21,  1918.] 

The  State  is  arranging  to  assume  the  necessary  expense  to  con- 
tinue full  service  of  the  Federal  employment  agencies.  The  gov- 
ernor believes  that  these  agencies  can  handle  the  situation  much 
more  effectively  than  volunteer  organizations. — [Telegram  from  the 
governor  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  19,  1919.] 

An  act  was  approved  March  26  creating  a  State  employment 
bureau  to  provide  suitable  employment  for  soldiers  and  sailors  of 
the  United  States  after  their  discharge  from  the  service.  It  is  con- 
ducted by  a  board  consisting  of  the  commissioner  of  labor,  the  secre- 
tary of  the  State  department  of  agriculture,  and  one  person  to  be 
appointed  by  the  governor.     It  establishes   a   central   office   with 


198       UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  EECONSTRUCTION. 

branches  in  every  municipalit}^,  and  provides  for  cooperation  with 
the  Federal  Government  agencies. — [LaAvs— New  Jersey,  1919,  ch.  5.] 

New  Jersey  is  arranging  to  assume  the  necessary  expense  to  continue 
the  services  of  the  Federal- State-Municipal  employment  agencies, 
and  will  also  depend  upon  popular  aid.  The  State  council  of  de- 
fense is  working  out  the  problem  with  the  State  director  of  the 
United  States  Employment  Service.  The  State  reports  17  employ- 
ment agencies  and  22  bureaus  for  returning  soldiers  and  sailors,  and 
is  working  in  thorough  cooperation  with  the  State  council  of  de- 
fense and  the  American  Red  Cross.  Particular  attention  is  given 
to  the  work  of  the  Federal  Board  for  Vocational  Education.  The 
mayor  of  Newark  is  arranging  to  raise  $300,000  in  his  own  city. 
New  Jersey  is  preparing  also  to  encourage  soldiers  to  secure  farm 
lands  by  means  of  the  Federal  land  bank  plan.— [News  release  of 
U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  xVpr.  G,  1919.] 

On  April  30,  on  the  initiative  and  through  the  cooperation  of  the 
Federal- State-Municipal  employment  service  and  the  State  coun- 
cil of  defense,  43  New  Jersey  municipalities  have  established 
bureaus  for  finding  employment  for  returning  soldiers  and  sailors, 
which  are  locally  provided  for  and  supported.  These  43  munici- 
palities, together  with  the  17  permanent  Federal-State-Municipal 
employment  offices  in  the  State,  give  a  total  of  60  New  Jersey  cities, 
towns,  and  boroughs  in  which  definite  provision  has  been  made  for 
finding  employment  for  men  returning  from  the  military  and  naval 
services  of  the  United  States  following  the  war. ^[Letter  from  secre- 
tary, State  council  of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
May  20,  1919.] 

The  New  Jersey  Highways  Transport  Committee  is  devoting 
much  time  to  the  work  of  placing  returned  soldiers,  sailors,  and 
marines  in  positions  with  automotive  concerns  throughout  the  State. 
It  has  found  a  need  for  men  equipped  either  for  purely  mechanical 
work  in  connection  with  the  motor  truck  or  for  executive  positions 
in  the  management  of  motor-express  lines,  garages,  service  stations, 
etc.,  and  has  succeeded  in  placing  many .  honorably  discharged 
veterans  in  such  positions. —  [Memorandum  from  Highways  Trans- 
port Committee,  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  July  23,  1919.] 

Employment  offices  maintained  in  New  Jersey  by  the  Federal 
Government  in  cooperation  with  State  and  local  organizations  re- 
port that  during  January,  February,  March,  and  June,  1919,  75,574 
persons  were  registered  who  were  seeking  employment;  87,384  re- 
quests for  employees  were  received;  and  57,533  persons  were  placed 
by  these  offices. — [Compiled  from  statistics  furnished  by  U.  S.  Em- 
ployment Service,  Aug.  8,  1919.] 

Citations  have  been  issued  by  the  United  States  War  and  Navy 
Dei^artments  to  733  firms  in  the  State,  these  employers  having  assured 


NEW   JERSEY.  199 

the  departments  that  they  will  reemploy  every  returned  service  man 
who  formerly  worked  for  them  and  left  to  serve  in  the  Army  or 
Navy  during  the  World  War. — [Memorandum  from  assistant  to  Sec- 
retary of  War  in  the  replacement  of  service  men  to  civil  life,  to 
U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Nov.  20,  1919.] 

The  mayor  of  Camden  has  worked  out  a  system  to  secure  employ- 
ment for  returning  service  men.  Thirty-two  of  the  largest  industries 
in  the  city  have  assured  the  mayor  of  their  cooperation  in  this 
matter.  In  working  out  his  plan  the  ma^or  has  prepared  two  sets  { 
of  cards  for  filing  purposes  in  his  office,  one  set  to  be  filled  out  by 
employers  and  the  other  by  the  service  men  or  their  families.  By 
this  plan  the  mayor  is  confident  of  finding  work  for  all  returning 
soldiers  who  may  have  diificulty  in  securing  employment. — [Post- 
Telegram,  Camden,  N.  J.,  Mar.  14,  1919.] 

With  the  object  in  view  of  securing  positions  for  the  returning 
soldiers  and  sailors  of  Jersey  City  and  especially  to  secure  for  those 
men  their  old  positions  with  the  firms  they  were  employed  by  at 
the  time  they  joined  the  service,  the  mayor  has  sent  a  letter  to 
every  business  house  in  the  city  placing  the  matter  up  to  them  and 
requesting  tliat  they  inform  him  of  just  what  they  are  doing  and  can 
do  for  the  service  men. — [Hudson  Observer,  Hoboken,  N.  J.,  Feb.  19, 
1919.] 

The  free  employment  bureau  for  discharged  soldiers  and  sailors 
which  is  being  conducted  by  the  Young  Men's  Hebrew  Association 
of  Jersey  City  is  proving  to  be  of  material  assistance.  The  com- 
mittee is  sending  a  letter  to  the  parents  of  the  boys  in  service 
asking  for  information  as  to  their  previous  employment,  in  order 
to  place  the  returning  soldiers  to  the  best  advantage. — [Jersey 
Journal,  Jersey  City,  N.  J.,  Mar.  8,  1919.] 

I^etters  asking  employers  in  Jersey  City  to  provide  and  hold  open 
jobs  for  discharged  soldiers  and  sailors  are  being  sent  out  by  the 
free  employment  bureau  of  the  Young  Men's  Hebrew  Association. — 
[Jersey  Journal,  Jersey  City,  N.  J.,  Mar.  29,  1919.] 

A  conference  was  held  in  Jersey  City,  April  lG,to  coordinate  the 
various  agencies  that  are  finding  jobs  for  soldiers.  There  were  rep- 
resented the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  home  service  section 
of  the  American  Eed  Cross,  employment  service  of  the  Elks,  Knights 
of  Columbus,  Young  Women's  Christian  Association,  Salvation 
Army,  War  Camp  Community  Service,  Federal  employment  service, 
and  United  States  War  Department.  A  single  central  employment 
bureau  is  to  be  organized.— [Hudson  Observer,  Hoboken,  N.  J.,  Apr. 
17,  1919.] 

The  mayor  of  Newark  has  established  a  soldiers'  and  sailors'  mu- 
nicipal-aid bureau,  which  cooperates  with  the  Federal-State-Munici- 
pal employment  bureau.    The  bureau  has  been  able  to  find  employ- 


200       UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

ment  for  every  soldier  and  sailor  who  has  requested  work. — [Letter 
from  mayor  of  Newark  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar. 
24,  1919.] 

The  Federal-State-Municipal  employment  agency  at  Trenton  has 
succeeded  in  replacing  returning  soldiers  and  sailors  in  employment. 
Through  a  city-wide  survey  the  number  of  plants  have  been  ascer- 
tained which  are  able  and  willing  to  employ  the  Trenton  service  men. 
Manufacturers  are  cheerfully  cooperating  with  the  Government  by 
/  reinstating  former  employees,  and  a  roll  of  honor  has  been  compiled 
on  which  are  recorded  the  names  of  plants  desiring  to  reemploy 
former  workmen. — [Sunday  Times- Advertiser,  Trenton,  N.  J.,  Dec. 
15,  1918.] 

Highways. 

The  State  highway  engineer  advises  that  a  State  highway  system 
is  under  construction  being  financed  by  a  tax  levy  amounting  to  about 
$3,000,000  a  year.  The  estimate  upon  which  this  tax  levy  was  based, 
however,  was  made  several  years  ago,  and  because  of  the  increase  in 
prices  double  the  amount  will  be  required  to  complete  the  system.  It 
is  believed  that  before  the  present  funds  are  exhausted  additional 
funds  will  be  provided  by  continuation  of  the  direct  tax  levy  to  com- 
plete the  system. — [Bulletin  No.  47,  Highways  Transport  Committee, 
IT.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense.] 

On  October  1,  1919,  15  highway  projects  had  been  approved  in  the 
State,  involving  the  improvement  of  70.25  miles  of  road  at  a  total 
estimated  cost  of  $3,492,320.65,  of  which  the  Federal  Government  is 
requested  to  pay  $998,734.33,  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the 
Federal-aid  road  act  of  July  11,  1916,  as  amended  by  the  act  of  Feb- 
ruary 28,  1919. — [Statement  prepared  by  Bureau  of  Public  Roads, 
U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture.] 
Housing  Accommodations. 

A  business  corporation  has  purchased  a  tract  of  30  acres  near 
Elizabeth,  on  w^hich  it  is  preparing  to  erect  homes  for  its  em- 
ployees. A  fund  of  $500,000  has  been  voted  to  finance  the 
project.  Loans  for  the  erection  of  dwellings  will  be  made  to  em- 
ployees at  5  per  cent  per  annum.  After  a  moderate  initial  payment 
the  owner  will  be  permitted  to  pay  the  balance  in  easy  instalments. — 
[Housing  Betterment,  New  York,  N.-  Y.,  June,  1919.] 
Information  Service  for  Returned  Service  Men. 

The  bureaus  of  employment  established  in  17  municipalities  will, 
in  cooperation  with  the  mayor  and  council  of  defense  of  each  munici- 
palit}^,  provide  information  as  to  emploj^ment,  vocational  education, 
protection  from  legal  difficulties  and  loan  sharks,  and  advice  and  en- 
couragement in  relation  to  keeping  up  war-risk  insurance.  The  gov- 
ernor will  issue  a  proclamation,  which  will  be  distributed  through 


NEW   JERSEY.  201 

all  the  cantonments,  hospitals,  schools,  industrial  phxnts,  and  through 
the  press,  calling  the  attention  of  returning  soldiers  and  sailors  to 
the  facilities  offered  and  advising  them  of  the  channels  through 
which  information  will  be  supplied.  In  addition,  the  governor  has 
requested  each  State  department  employing  inspectors  to  instruct 
the  inspectors  to  add  to  their  duties  the  matter  of  reporting  and 
checking  up  on  the  progress  of  the  plan,  and  to  aid  in  advising  men 
returning  from  the  service  of  the  opportunities  afforded. — [Times, 
Trenton,  N.  J.,  Dec.  20,  1918.] 

At  the  request  of  the  Federal  Board  for  Vocational  Education  the 
State  commissioner  of  education  has  appointed  a  man  in  each  county 
and  in  each  of  the  larger  cities  of  the  State  to  act  in  the  capacity  of 
assistant  vocational  adviser  to  disabled  men  who  have  been  dis- 
charged from  the  service.  It  is  the  duty  of  the  vocational  adviser  to 
assist  discharged  soldiers  by  informing  them  of  their  rights  under 
the  law  for  the  rehabilitation  of  disabled  soldiers,  helping  them  to 
fill  out  necessary  application  papers  for  training,  advising  them  in 
all  matters  pertaining  to  the  training  they  may  wish  to  take,  and,  if 
necessary,  supplying  them  with  funds  with  which  to  travel  to  tho 
office  of  the  district  vocational  officer  of  the  Federal  Board  for  Voca- 
tional Education. — [Letter  from  secretary.  State  council  of  defense 
to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  25,  1919.] 

The  local  branches  of  the  American  Red  Cross  are  cooperating 
with  other  organizations  in  establishing  contacts  with  service  men 
for  the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  adjustment  of  their  allotments, 
allowance  accounts,  compensation  and  claims,  and  the  reinstatement 
of  lapsed  or  canceled  insurance.  It  is  the  desire  of  the  Bureau  of 
War  Risk  Insurance  that  all  inquiries  of  this  nature  be  cleared 
through  the  home-service  sections  of  the  American  Red  Cross.  Up 
to  April  1,  1919,  the  American  Red  Cross  had  organized  in  New 
elersey  227  units  with  a  total  of  759  workers. — [Statement  prepared 
by  American  National  Red  Cross  for  U.  S.  Council  of  National  De- 
fense, November,  1919.] 
Land  Settlement. 

In  his  annual  message  to  the  legislature  January  14  the  governor 
laid  emphasis  on  certain  problems  relating  to  soldiers  returning 
from  service  in  France.  He  urged  that  consideration  be  given  some 
practical  plan  for  acquiring  through  Federal  and  State  action  cut- 
over  and  idle  land  to  provide  farm  homes  for  the  returning  soldiers 
and  sailors  and  submitted  a  plan  by  which  homestead  associations 
in  New  Jersey  might  be  enabled  to  cooperate  with  Federal  land  banks 
and  make  it  possible  for  returning  soldiers  to  acquire  land  without 
capital.— [Post,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  14,  1919.] 

The  State  legislature  is  considering  measures  which  encourage  and 
safeguard  the  operations  of  the  homestead  associations  of  the  State, 


202        UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

with  the  idea  of  making  it  possible  for  discharged  soldiers  and 
sailors  to  secure  farm  land  with  the  assistance  of  Federal  land  banks. 
There  is  also  being  considered  a  measure  creating  a  commission  of 
State  department  heads  empowered  to  secure  farm  lands  for  soldiers 
and  otherwise  provide  employment. — [Letter  from  secretary,  State 
council  of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  28, 
1919.] 

The  executive  committee  of  the  State  council  of  defense  has  passed 
a  resolution  approving  and  indorsing  the  soldier  land-settlement 
plan  advocated  by  the  Secretary  of  the  Interior  in  so  far  as  the 
general  purposes  and  provisions  of  the  plan  are  concerned. — [Letter 
from  secretary,  State  council  of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National 
Defense,  May  20,  1919.] 

On  December  20,  1918,  the  governor  wrote  to  the  Secretary  of  the 
Interior  as  follows:  "Let  me  assure  you  that  New  Jersey  is  very 
desirous  of  cooperating  with  you  in  your  very  commendable  desire  to 
meet  this  problem  in  every  way  possible  and  you  may  be  sure  that 
every  resource  of  the  State  will  be  placed  at  your  disposal." 

A  bill  was  introduced  in  the  legislature  providing  for  a  State 
land-settlement  board  and  carrying  an  appropriation  of  $300,000 
for  the  purchase  of  lands  to  be  divided  into  small  farms  and  for 
the  establishment  of  farm  colonies.    No  action  was  taken  on  this  bill. 

The  legislature  passed  a  bill,  approved  March  26,  1919,  creating  a 
State  employment  bureau,  with  power,  among  other  things,  to  secure 
farm  homes  for  soldiers  and  sailors. 

Appropriation  was  made  to  permit  the  State  department  of  con- 
servation and  development  to  create  a  land-registration  bureau  to 
assist  in  the  placing  of  men  on  available  land. — [Memorandum  from 
Keclamation  Service,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  the  Interior  to  U.  S.  Council 
of  National  Defense,  July  1,  1919.] 
Pensions  for  Service  Men. 

An  act,  approved  April  IT,  provides  for  the  extension  of  the  re- 
tirement on  pension  after  20  years'  service  in  public  office  of  men  hon- 
orably discharged  from  the  military  or  naval  service,  providing  the 
person  has  attained  the  age  of  62  years  or  becomes  incapacitated  for 
performing  the  duties  of  his  office,  to  those  discharged  from  any 
war  of  the  United  States.— [Laws— New  Jersey,  1919,  ch.  249.] 
Preference  to  Returned  Service  Men  in  Public  Employment. 

The  State  civil-service  commission  on  January  22  announced  that 
it  had  approved  a  scale  of  credits  to  be  applied  to  men  in  the  Army, 
Navy,  or  Marine  Corps,  ranging  from  1  to  10  per  cent. — [Post,  New 
York,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  22,  1919.] 

"Highway-week"  will  be  held  by  the  civil-service  commission, 
starting  March  10,  when  a  series  of  examinations  will  be  given  for 
places  in  the  State  highway  department.    When  the  new  construe- 


NEW   JERSEY.  203 

tion  program  is  put  in  operation  in  the  spring  there  will  be  room 
for  inspectors,  engineers,  motor-truck  drivers,  foremen  guards,  fore- 
men, clerks,  mechanics,  stenographers,  and  others,  to  a  total  of  100 
or  more.  Discharged  service  men  are  especially  invited  by  the  com- 
mission to  enter  the  competition,  as  it  is  desired  to  obtain  a  number 
of  capable  and  experienced  men  with  militar}-  training,  such  as  non- 
commissioned officers,  to  serve  as  foremen  guards  on  construction 
work  and  as  foremen,  inspectors,  etc.  Military  credits  will  be  ex- 
tended to  discharged  service  men  in  entrance  examinations. — [Star- 
Eagle,  Newark,  N.  J.,  Feb.  20,  1919.] 

An  act,  approved  April  11,  provides  that  any  man  discharged 
from  the  service  who  is  holding  a  State  or  municipal  office  shall  be 
continued  in  such  office  during  his  good  behavior,  and  shall  not  bo 
removed  from  office  for  political  reasons  without  an  impartial 
hearing. — [Laws— New  Jei-sey,  1919,  ch.  124.] 

An  act,  approved  April  11,  provides  that  in  every  branch  of  the 
public  service  and  upon  all  public  works  of  the  State  and  of  the 
cities,  counties,  towns,  villages,  and  municipalities  in  the  State,  and 
in  all  noncompetitive  examinations  under  the  civil-service  rules, 
laws,  or  regulations,  wherever  the}^  apply,  honorably  discharged  sol- 
diers, sailors,  and  marines  who  have  served  in  any  Avar  in  which 
this  country  is  or  has  been  engaged  shall  be  preferred  for  appoint- 
ment, employment,  and  promotion.  There  is  also  a  provision  that 
a  refusal  to  allow  the  preference  provided  for  in  this  act  to  any 
honorably  discharged  soldier,  sailor,  or  marine,  or  a  reduction  of 
his  compensation,  intended  to  bring  about  his  resignation,  or  his 
removal  by  abolishing  the  office  which  he  holds,  for  the  purpose  of 
effecting  his  dismissal,  shall  be  deemed  a  misdemeanor. —  [Laws — 
New  Jersey,  1919,  ch.  125.] 
Profiteering. 

A  proclamation  was  issued  by  the  governor  September  20,  1918, 
calling  attention  to  complaints  made  of  rent  profiteering,  warning- 
landlords  who  are  guilty  to  desist,  and  threatening  to  use  extra- 
ordinary measures  if  continued. — [Laws — New  Jersey,  1919,  p.  731.] 
Public  Works. 

A  bill  was  introduced  in  the  State  house  of  representatives  pro- 
viding for  an  issue  of  $1,000,000  in  bonds  to  purchase  the  property 
needed  for  the  proposed  ship  canal  across  New  Jersey  from  Borden- 
town  to  Amboy.  The  measure  carries  a  referendum  to  the  voters  of 
the  State  because  under  the  constitution  no  more  than  $100,000  can 
be  placed  against  the  State  as  a  debt  of  this  character  Avithout  the 
approval  of  the  electorate. — [Record,  Hackensack,  N.  J.,  Mar.  28, 
1919.] 

Reports  received  in  January,  1919,  cover  lOG  public  building  and 
construction  projects  which  were  under  Avay  or  contemplated  in  the 


204        UmTED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

State,  aggregating  an  estimated  value  of  $18,250,000.  Of  this  num- 
ber 41  were  street  improvements,  estimated  to  cost  $9,160,000;  1 
bridge,  estimated  to  cost  $2,500,000;  6  were  hospitals,  estimated  to 
cost  $595,000;  and  33  were  schoals,  estimated  to  cost  $195,000. — [Sta- 
tistics compiled  by  Division  of  Public  Works  and  Construction 
Developments,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor,  Apr.  17, 1919.] 
Reconstruction  Program. 

Outstanding  features  of  the  administration's  program  for  legisla- 
tion, outlined  by  the  governor,  include  the  passage  of  laws  having 
for  their  object  the  welfare  and  rehabilitation  of  approximately 
150,000  soldiers  and  sailors  from  New  Jersey,  uninterrupted  con- 
tinuation of  the  construction  of  a  State  highway  system,  and  im- 
provements in  State  affairs.  In  recommending  legislation  for  the 
benefit  of  returning  soldiers  and  sailors,  the  governor  suggested 
specifically  the  passage  of  laws  to  carry  out  the  plan  of  the  United 
States  Department  of  the  Interior  to  make  farm  lands  available 
for  soldiers,  an  amendment  to  the  act  of  last  year  creating  the  State 
council  of  defense  so  as  to  perpetuate  its  usefulness,  and  such  changes 
in  the  school  laws  as  may  be  deemed  necessary  to  provide  for  the 
education  or  rehabilitation  of  soldiers. — [News,  Newark,  N.  J.,  Dec. 
20,  1918.] 
Rehabilitation  of  Physically  Handicapped  Persons. 

An  act  was  approved  by  the  legislature  April  10  providing  for  re- 
habilitation by  the  State  of  disabled  industrial  workers.  Three  of 
the  six  commissioners  provided  for  by  the  legislation  are  to  be  desig- 
nated by  the  governor,  the  other  three  members  of  the  commission 
being  designated  by  the  statute,  namely,  the  State  commissioners  of 
public  instruction,  labor,  and  institutions  and  agencies.  The  duty 
of  this  commission  is  to  direct  the  rehabilitation  of  any  physically 
handicapped  persons,  16  years  of  age  or  over,  residing  in  the  State. 
Among  other  duties  the  commission  is  to  maintain  and  operate  a 
school  to  be  known  as  The  New  Jersey  Memorial  School  for  Rehabili- 
tation, with  such  branch  schools  as  may  be  necessary.  The  act  pro- 
vides that  $5,000  shall  be  appropriated  for  surveys,  and  an  appro- 
priation of  $100,000  is  made  to  carry  into  effect  the  purpose  of  the 
act. — [Laws — New  Jersey,  1919,  ch.  74.] 

Five  departments  of  the  State  federation  of  women's  clubs — civics, 
education,  industrial  and  social  conditions,  legislation,  and  public 
health — are  working  together,  under  the  direction  of  the  State  cham- 
ber of  commerce,  in  making  a  survey  of  the  physically  handicapped 
persons  in  the  State.  The  survey  is  to  determine  a  practical  basis 
for  the  training  of  all  disabled  persons,  and  will  include  handicapped 
civilians  as  well  as  soldiers,  and  is  not  to  be  confined  to  cripples, 
but  is  to  include  all  persons  affected  to  the  extent  of  being  handi- 


NEW  JERSEY.  205 

capped  in  working  for  self-support. — [Jersey  Journal,  Jersey  City, 
N.  J.,  Mar.  6,  1919.] 
School  Gardens. 

School  gardens  are  being  conducted  in  120  cities  and  towns,  the 
total  present  enrollment  in  the  State  being  53,36-1.  In  Newark,  dur- 
ing the  fiscal  year  ending  June  30,  1919,  there  were  12,100  children 
enrolled. —  [Prepared  from  material  furnished  by  U.  S.  School  Gar- 
den Army  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Nov.  1,  1919.] 
stimulation  of  Food  Production. 

The  governor  on  April  14  issued  a  proclamation  designating  a 
week  in  April  as  "Victory-planting-week,"  and  calling  upon   all 
persons  to  cultivate  back  yards  and  other  idle  lands. — [Laws — New 
Jersey,  1919,  p.  767.] 
Tax  Exemption  for  Service  Men  and  Their  Widows. 

An  act,  approved  April  7,  extended  to  all  persons  engaged  in  the 
military  and  naval  service  of  the  State  or  of  the  United  States  during 
the  present  war  the  provisions  of  an  act  approved  April  8,  1903, 
granting  exemption  from  poll  tax  and  from  State,  county,  and  mu- 
nicipal taxation  upon  real  and  personal  property  to  a  valuation  not 
exceeding  $500,  who  served  in  any  war  in  which  this  country  was 
engaged,  and  their  widows  during  widowhood,  and  to  all  members 
of  the  National  Guard  during  their  term  of  service. — [Laws — New 
Jersey,  1919,  ch.  46.] 
Vocational  Reeducation  of  Disabled  Service  Men. 

An  arrangement  has  been  made  with  the  State  department  of 
public  instruction  by  which  the  teachers  of  vocational  education 
and  county  and  city  superintendents  will  give  part-time  advisement 
service  to  all  disabled  soldiers,  sailors,  etc.,  who  are  properly  en- 
titled to  the  benefits  of  the  Federal  act  for  vocational  education. — 
[Letter  from  secretary.  State  council  of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of 
National  Defense,  June  18,  1919.] 

In  accordance  with  section  2  of  the  Federal  vocational  rehabilita- 
tion act  of  June  27,  1918,  as  amended  July  11,  1919,  arrangements 
had  been  made  up  to  October  25,  1919,  by  the  Federal  Board  for 
Vocational  Education  with  15  educational  institutions  in  the  State 
for  the  reeducation  of  service  men  to  overcome  the  handicap  of  dis- 
abilities incurred  in  the  service.  A  total  of  252  such  men  have  been 
sent  to  these  institutions  for  training.  Arrangements  have  also  been 
been  made  by  this  board  with  9  industrial  establishments  in  the 
State  whereby  the  latter  have  undertaken  to  train  a  total  of  26  dis- 
abled men. — [Compiled  from  statement  prepared  by  Rehabilitation 
Division,  Federal  Board  for  Vocational  Education.] 
Woman's  Committee. 

The  State  division  of  the  Woman's  Committee,  United  States 
Council  of  National  Defense,  desires  to  continue  as  long  as  there  is 


206       UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

any  need  for  the  work.  The  governor  has  allowed  from  the  budget 
$4,000  for  the  State  division  to  continue  for  another  year.  Since  the 
State  division  is  to  continue  for  another  year,  the  governor  is  not  in 
favor  of  any  new  departures,  such  as  community  councils,  for  the 
present,  although  he  is  extremely  impressed  with  the  service  accom- 
plished by  the  380  local  units  of  the  State  division. — [Statement 
by  chairman,  State  division  of  the  Woman's  Committee,  U.  S.  Coun- 
cil of  National  Defense,  at  a  conference,  Washington,  D.  C.,  Feb.  12, 
1919.]  ■  , 

Plans  are  being  formulated  for  the  amalgamation  of  the  State 
federation  of  women's  clubs  and  the  State  division  of  the  Woman's 
Committee,  United  States  Council  of  National  Defense. — [Jersey 
Journal,  Jersey  City,  N.  J.,  Mar.  6,  1919.] 

NEW  MEXICO. 

Americanization. 

The  Americanization  work  of  the  State  council  of  defense  has 
been  carried  on  by  its  educational  director.  In  cooperation  with  the 
United  States  Bureau  of  Naturalization,  Americanization  schools 
have  been  provided  for  in  10  cities,  and  where  necessary  special 
teachers  have  been  employed.  They  will  teach  everything  relating 
to  naturalization  and  patriotic  citizenship.  In  Colfax  County 
special  schools  for  the  education  of  foreigners  have  been  maintained 
for  several  years  by  the  mining  companies  and  much  has  been  ac- 
complished in  promoting  the  Americanization  movement.  The  ed- 
ucational agencies  of  the  State  have  cooperated  at  all  times  with  the 
State  council  of  defense  in  furthering  this  work. 

Americanization  work  will  continue  under  the  direction  of  the 
State  board  of  education.  An  act  passed  by  the  legislature  and  ap- 
proved March  17,  provides  that  whenever  there  are  10  or  more  illit- 
erate or  semi-illiterate  adult  persons  in  any  rural  or  municipal  school 
district  who  wish  to  attend  a  night  school,  the  respective  rural  or 
municipal  board  of  education  may  engage  competent  instructors  to 
teach  such  persons  in  sessions  of  two  hours  each,  three  times  a  w^eek 
during  the  regular  school  term. — [Report  of  State  council  of  defense 
to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  May,  1919.] 
Assistance  for  Service  Men  and  Their  Families. 

House  bill  234,  approved  March  14,  jprovides  that  every  honorably 
discharged  soldier,  sailor^  or  marine,  who  may  hereafter  die  without 
leaving  sufficient  means  to  defray  his  funeral  expenses,  shall  be  de- 
cently interred  by  the  boards  of  county  commissioners,  at  county  ex- 
pense,  and  no  such  burial  shall  be  made  in  any  potter's  field  under 
any  circumstances. — [Laws  of  New  Mexico,  1919,  ch.  65.] 

All  county  and  district  units  of  the  State  council  of  defense  will 
continue  ta  render  the  usual  services  of  assisting  dej^endents  in  se- 


NEW  MEXICO.  207 

curing  allotments  and  allowanies,  and  assisting  and  advising  sol- 
diers in  connection  witii  legal  matters.^ — [Report  of  State  council  of 
defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  May,  1919.] 

"  Back-to-Scliool "  Drive. 

The  '•  Back-to-school  ■'  drive  participated  in  by  chambers  of  com- 
merce, rotary  clubs,  parent-teacher  associations,  county  and  com- 
munity councils  of  defeiise,  and  other  agencies  was  very  successful. 
All  schools  are  crowded  to  capacity  and  many  are  overcrowded.  On 
April  15  five  new  school  buildings  were  under  construction.  Several 
applications  for  new  buildings  are  being  considered  by  the  State 
board  of  education.  In  order  to  remedy  deficiencies  in  present  laws 
and  provide  additional  school  facilities,  the  legislature  enacted  a  law 
authorizing  boards  of  education  in  municipal  school  districts  to 
issue  bonds  for  the  purchase  of  school  sites  and  for  the  construction, 
enlargement,  and  repair  of  school  buildings.  Tax  levies  are  author- 
ized to  be  made  to  pay  therefor. — [Report  of  State  council  of  defense 
to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  May,  1919.] 

Council  of  Defense. 

A  bill  passed  by  the  legislature  provides  for  the  continuation  of 
the  State  council  of  defense  until  90  days  after  the  formal  declara- 
tion of  peace. — [Report  of  State  council  of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council 
of  National  Defense,  May,  1919.] 

Employment. 

All  county  and  district  units  of  the  State  council  of  defense, 
including  county  legal  committees,  will  continue  to  assist  soldiers  in 
obtaining  employment. 

Employers  generally  have  gi^en  returned  soldiers  every  oppor- 
tunity to  return  to  their  former  positions,  and  so  far  the  employment 
question  has  been  practically  self-adjusting. — [Report  of  State 
council  of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  May,  1919.] 

Employment  offices  maintained  in  New  Mexico  by  the  Eederal 
Government  in  cooperation  with  State  and  local  organizations,  re- 
port that  during  the  six  months'  period  January  1  to  June  30,  1919, 
7.I60  persons  were  registered  who  were  seeking  employment;  6,721 
requests  for  employees  w  ere  received ;  and  5,486  persons  were  placed 
by  these  offices. — [Compiled  from  statistics  furnished  by  U.  S. 
Employment  Service,  Aug.  8,  1919.] 

Citations  have  been  issued  by  the  United  States  War  and  Navy 
Departments  to  43  firms  in  the  State,  these  employers  having  as- 
sured the  departments  that  they  will  reem])loy  every  returned  service 
man  who  formerly  worked  for  them  and  left  to  serve  in  the  Army 
or  Nav}'  during  the  World  War. — [Memorandum  from  assistant  to 
Secretary  of  War  in  the  replacement  of  service  men  to  civil  life,  to 
U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Nov.  20,  1919.] 


208        UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  KECONSTRUCTION. 

Highways, 

On  October  1,  1919,  28  highway  projects  had  been  approved  in  the 
State,  involving  the  improvement  of  489.37  miles  of  road  at  a  total 
estimated  cost  of  $2,498,032.11,  of  which  the  Federal  Government  is 
requested  to  pay  $1,249,016.04  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of 
the  Federal-aid  road  act  of  July  11,  1916,  as  amended  by  the  act  of 
February  28,  1919. — [Statement  prepared  by  Bureau  of  Public 
Eoads,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture.] 

The  total  amount  of  money  to  be  allotted  by  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment to  aid  in  construction  of  rural  post  roads  in  New  Mexico  is 
approximately  $4,273,000  for  the  three-year  period  1919-21.  To  meet 
these  allotments  and  to  provide  funds  for  the  construction  and  main- 
tenance of  State  highways,  the  legislature  enacted  several  laws  pro- 
viding for  tax  levies,  the  issuance  and  sale  of  debentures,  an  excise 
tax  of  2  cents  per  gallon  on  gasoline,  motor- vehicle  license  fees,  etc., 
the  proceeds  whereof  are  to  be  covered  into  the  State  road  fund. 
Under  senate  bill  86  a  State  highway  bond  issue  of  $2,000,000  is  pro- 
vided, the  proceeds  to  be  used  for  Federal-aid  projects,  the  enactment 
to  be  submitted  to  the  electors  for  their  approval  at  the  1920  general 
election.  An  extensive  road-building  program  has  been  adopted  and 
a  number  of  contracts  have  been  let  for  the  immediate  construction 
of  Federal-State  projects. — [Report  of  State  council  of  defense  to 
IT.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  May,  1919.] 
Information  Service  for  Keturned  Service  Men. 

The  local  branches  of  the  American  Red  Cross  are  cooperating 
with  other  organizations  in  establishing  contacts  with  service  men 
for  the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  adjustment  of  their  allotments, 
allowance  accounts,  compensation  and  claims,  and  the  reinstatement 
of  lapsed  or  canceled  insurance.  It  is  the  desire  of  the  Bureau  of 
War  Risk  Insurance  that  all  inquiries  of  this  nature  be  cleared 
through  the  home-service  sections  of  the  American  Red  Cross.  Up 
to  April  1,  1919,  the  American  Red  Cross  had  organized  in  New 
Mexico  101  units  with  a  total  of  240  workers. — [Statement  prepared 
by  American  National  Red  Cross  for  U-  S.  Council  of  National  De- 
fense, November,  1919.] 
Land  Settlement. 

An  act  has  been  passed  by  the  legislature  creating  the  New  Mexico 
Soldier  Settlement  Board,  defining  its  duties  and  powers;  appro- 
priating $30,000  to  carry  out  the  provisions  of  the  act;  and  provid- 
ing for  cooperation  between  the  State  and  the  United  States  in  sol- 
dier-settlement work  under  the  plan  proposed  by  the  United  States 
Department  of  the  Interior,  or  such  other  plan  as  may  be  adopted. 
It  is  the  duty  of  the  board  to  provide  useful  employment  and  rural 
homes  for  honorably  discharged  soldiers,  sailors,  and  marines.    To 


NEW  MEXICO.  209 

accomplish  these  objects,  one-half  of  the  proceeds  in  cash  or  securi- 
ties amounting  to  approximately  $1,000,0000,  derived  from  rentals 
or  sales  of  60,000  acres  of  certain  lands  granted  to  the  State  by  cer- 
tain acts  of  Congress,  shall  be  covered  into  the  soldier-settlement 
fund.  The  board  is  authorized  to  borrow  money  and  issue  certifi- 
cates of  indebtedness  or  debentures  in  anticipation  of  the  collection 
of  the  amounts  to  be  secured  from  such  rentals  and  sales  of  State 
lands. — [Report  of  State  council  of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of 
National  Defense,  May,  1919.] 

Public  Works. 

Reports  received  in  January,  1919,  cover  24  public  building  and 
construction  projects  which  were  under  Avay  or  contemplated  in  the 
State,  aggregating  an  estimated  value  of  $3,650,000.  Of  this  num- 
ber 14  were  street  improvements,  estimated  to  cost  $3,175,000 ;  3  were 
waterworks,  estimated  to  cost  $210,000;  and  2  were  schools,  estimated 
to  cost  $75,000. — [Statistics  compiled  by  Division  of  Public  Works 
and  Construction  Developments,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor,  Apr.  17, 1919.] 
School  Gardens. 

School  gardens  are  being  conducted  in  9  cities  and  towns,  the 
total  present  enrollment  in  the  State  being  350. — [Prepared  from 
material  furnished  by  U.  S.  School  Garden  Army  to  U.  S.  Council 
of  National  Defense,'Nov.  1,  1919.] 
Suffrage  for  Returned  Service  Men. 

A  constitutional  amendment  will  be  submitted  to  the  people  of 
the  State  in  1920,  providing  that  citizens  of  New  Mexico  in  the 
military  or  naval  service  of  the  United  States  or  of  the  State  absent 
from  their  places  of  legal  residence,  being  otherAvise  qualified  elec- 
tors, may  be  alloAved  to  vote  at  any  election  for  all  State  offices,  presi- 
dential electors,  representatives  in  Congress,  and  upon  constitutional 
amendments,  under  such  regulations  and  limitations  as  may  be  pre- 
scribed by  laws. — [LaAvs  of  Ncav  Mexico,  1919,  J.  Res.  13.] 
Tax  Exemption  for  Service  Men  and  Their  Widows. 

An  act  of  the  legislature  exempts  honorably  discharged  soldiers, 
sailors,  and  marines,  or  their  Avidows,  from  taxation  on  property 
valued  up  to  $2,000.  All  such  soldiers,  sailors,  or  marines  are  also 
exempt  under  the  law  from  payment  of  the  usual  road  or  poll  tax. — 
I  Report  of  State  council  of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National 
Defense,  May,  1919.] 
Vocational  Reeducation  of  Disabled  Service  Men. 

In  accordance  with  section  2  of  the  Federal  vocational  rehabilita- 
tion act  of  June  27,  1918,  as  amended  July  11,  1919,  arrangements 
had  been  made  up  to  October  25,  1919,  by  the  Federal  Board  for 
Vocational  Education  Avith  six  educational  institutions  in  the  State 
for  the  reeducation  of  service  men  to  overcome  the  handicap  of  dis- 
134286°— 20 14 


210        UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

abilities  incurred  in  the  service.  A  total  of  28  such  men  have 
been  sent  to  these  institutions  for  training.  Arrangements  have  also 
been  made  by  this  board  with  an  industrial  establishment  in  the 
State  whereb}^  the  latter  have  undertaken  to  train  four  disabled 
men. — [Compiled  from  statement  prepared  by  Rehabilitation  Divi- 
sion, Federal  Board  for  Vocational  Education.] 

NEW  YORK. 

Administrative  Reorganization. 

A  survey  into  the  working  organization  of  every  State  depart- 
ment, bureau,  and  commission  is  being  conducted  by  the  State  re- 
construction commission.  The  aim  is  to  reorganize  the  work  wher- 
ever advisable  along  more  efficient  and  economical  lines.  Every 
department  ha,s  been  asked  to  furnish  a  chart  of  its  organization, 
-with  titles  of  places  and  the  work  performed.  Duplication  will  be 
weeded  out.  Where  contracts  and  work  have  fallen  behind,  the 
reason  will  he  ascertained  and  renewed  efforts  to  retrieve  lost  time 
initiated. — [American,  Xew  York,  N.  Y.,  Mar.  8,  1919.] 

Aerial  Police  Service. 

A  volunteer  aerial  police  service,  fully  equipped  and  composed  of 
150  expert  fliers  which  represents  the  first  organization  of  its  kind, 
is  now  ready  for  duty  in  New  York  City  and  is  regulating  aerial 
traffic  rules  in  and  about  Manhattan,  The  work  of  this  force  will 
be  to  make  aviation  safe  with  regard  to  traffic  and  to  prevent  amateur 
flying  which  might  cause  damage  to  the  city. — [Christian  Science 
Monitor,  Boston,  Mass.,  Apr.  15,  1919.] 

Americanization. 

The  committee  on  education  has  i^resented  a  report  to  the  recon- 
struction commission  in  the  matter  of  education.  This  report  dis- 
criminates between  the  mere  learning  of  the  English  language  and 
the  education  of  the  mind,  the  feelings,  and  the  will  to  the  ideals  of 
American  citizenship.  It  was  considered,  how^ever,  that  the  lan- 
guage is  an  important  factor  in  this  education.  Among  the  things 
to  be  taught  the  naturalized  and  even  the  native-born  citizen  are  the 
ability  of  democracy  to  meet  great  crises,  as  illustrated  in  American 
history ;  and  the  acceptance  of  the  rule  of  the  majority,  while  at  all 
times  striving,  through  cooperation  of  the  foreign-born  citizens  and 
the  older  Americans,  to  eliminate  the  evils  that  do  exist  in  tlie  body 
politic.  Initial  practice  in  lawmaking  is  urged  by  a  measure  of  self- 
government  in  the  schools,  by  neighborhood  action,  and  by  the  intro- 
duction of  democracy  in  industry.  The  creation  of  a  type  of  civili- 
zation superior  to  any  which  has  existed  is  said  to  be  the  purpose 
for  which  America  stands,  and  to  be  truly  Americanized  is  to  take 
one's  part  in  contributing  toward  the  realization  of  this  end.    The 


NEW  YORK.  211 

final  section  of  the  report  deals  with  the  methods  of  accomplishing 
the  desired  results,  and  takes  the  ground  that  it  is  sometimes  neces- 
.sary  to  inculcate  American  ideas  by  the  use  of  a  foreign  language. 
Recommendations  made  include  an  increase  in  the  fund  available 
for  Americanization  work;  continuation  schools  for  working  boys 
and  girls  under  18  years ;  some  form  of  compulsion  upon  those  over 
18  who  are  unable  to  read  and  write  the  English  language — action  on 
this  to  be  deferred,  however,  until  Federal  aid  in  providing  such  edu- 
cation has  been  secured ;  and  the  development  of  lectures  and  courses 
in  American  institutions  and  ideals. —  [Report  of  committee  on  edu- 
cation of  the  Reconstruction  Commission  of  New  York  State  to  the 
governor — no  date.] 

Under  a  measure,  effective  May  14,  the  commissioner  of  education 
is  authorized  to  divide  the  State  into  zones  and  to  appoint  directors 
thereof,  teachers,  and  such  other  employees  as  may  be  necessary  to 
promote  and  extend  educational  facilities  for  the  education  of  illit- 
erate and  of  non-English-speaking  persons.  For  carrying  out  the 
provisions  of  the  act  the  sum  of  $100,000  is  appropriated  to  the  com- 
missioner of  education.  The  act  also  authorized  cities,  counties, 
towns,  and  villages  to  make  appropriations  to  assist  in  the  work 
within  their  own  jurisdictions. — [Laws  of  New. York,  1919,  ch.  617.] 

Many  communities  have  been  organized  and  plans  have  been  drawn 
up  for  comprehensive  Americanization  work  for  the  coming  year. — 
[Memorandum  from  Americanization  division,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  the 
Interior  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  July  23,  1919.] 

The  initial  step  in  the  Americanization  campaign  planned  by  the 
State  department  of  immigration  education  was  taken  up  September 
8.  The  first  expenditures  out  of  the  sum  of  $100,000  appropriated 
for  this  purpose  Avill  be  made  for  the  benefit  of  the  Italian  and 
Czecho-Slovak  residents  in  New  York  City.  Participating  in  the 
campaign  are  the  State  department  of  immigration  education,  the 
city  school  board,  Lenox  Hill  settlement,  and  influential  Italians  and 
Bohemians.  In  addition  to  giving  the  use.  of  schoolhouses  the 
board  of  education  has  agreed  to  furnish  qualified  teachers.  Wher- 
ever possible  men  and  Avomen  of  Italian  or  Bohemian  birth  are  being 
picked  for  the  Americanization  work.  This  is  the  first  time  that 
State  and  civil  forces  have  combined  in  this  city  in  a  practical  at- 
tempt to  reduce  adult  illiteracy. — [Tribune,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Sept. 
8,  1919.] 

The  first  Federal  Americanization  bureau  has  been  established  by 
the  United  States  Depa rtment  of  the  Interior  in  Alban3\  The  director 
of  this  bureau  will  cooperate  with  the  Americanization  committee 
of  the  Albany  Chamber  of  Commerce  in  directing  the  Americaniza- 
tion work  in  New  York  and  New  England  cities.    This  committee 


212       UNITED  STATES  READ JTJSTMEITT  AND  REC0NSTEUCTI0:N". 

has  made  a  survey  of  conditions  in  that  locality. — [Foreign-Ameri- 
can Series,  Bulletin  No.  10,  National  War  Work  Council,  Young 
Men's  Christian  Association,  New  York,  N.  Y-.] 

The  city  of  Kingston  maintains  a  night  school  for  aliens,  tuition 
being  free.  A  part  of  the  teaching  force  is  paid  and  the  other 
teachers  and  visitors  serve  without  compensation.  The  newspapers 
keep  the  school  before  the  people  continually. — [Compiled  from 
forthcoming  report  of  director  of  citizenship  to  Commissioner  of 
Naturalization,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor,  1920.] 

The  New  York  Educational  Alliance  has  inaugurated  a  "Learn- 
English"  campaign  on  the  lower  east  side  of  New  York  City.  By 
the  wide  distribution  of  its  posters  printed  in  foreign  languages,  the 
alliance  hopes  to  encourage  foreigners  to  join  classes  which  it  is  now 
forming.  The  alliance  will  endeavor  to  show  the  foreigner  that 
with  a  knowledge  of  English  he  can  avail  himself  of  innumerable 
privileges  of  which  he  is  now  deprived. — [Christian  Science  Monitor, 
Boston,  Mass.,  Feb.  20,  1919.] 

The  board  of  education  of  New  York  City  is  preparing  the  fol- 
lowing plan :  After  next  September  no  pupil  will  receive  a  diploma 
from  an}^  high  school  unless  he  can  pass  a  satisfactory  examination 
in  economics;  courses  in  community  civics  are  to  be  established  in 
all  the  schools;  every  pupil  will  be  required  to  take  five  periods  a 
w^eek  in  these  courses  for  at  least  one  term;  80  new  teachers  are  to 
be  engaged  to  give  instruction  in  civics;  the  presentation  of  all  the 
courses  will  be  absolutely  and  unqualifiedly  from  the  American  view- 
point; the  new  community  civics  courses  will  seek  to  show  the 
students  exactly  how  much  the  city  and  Government  are  doing  for 
them,  unnoticed,  every  day,  and  they  will  deal  with  the  water  supply, 
the  collection  of  garbage,  the  police  department,  etc. — [Tribune, 
New  York,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  20,  1919.] 

Representatives  of  31  settlement  and  neighborhood  houses  in  New 
York  City  are  going  to  coordinate  their  work  and  form  the  Federa- 
tion of  the  United  Neighborhood  Houses  of  New  York.  The  pur- 
I)ose  of  the  federation  is  to  perpetuate  more  effective  Americaniza- 
tion of  the  foreign  element  than  now  exists,  and  to  prevent  the  spread 
of  Bolshevism.  Settlement  workers  were  requested  to  listen  to  casual 
conversations  of  foreigners  and  report  the  nature  of  what  seemed  to 
interest  them.— [Herald,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Mar.  2,  1919.] 

An  Americanization  campaign  is  being  inaugurated  by  the  munici- 
pal forum  of  the  mayor's  committee  of  women  on  reconstruction  and 
relief,  with  the  purpose  of  establishing  closer  relations  with  foreign- 
born  dwellers  in  New  York  City  and  to  familiarize  them  with  the 
opportunities  and  advantages  of  American  citizenship.  The  plan 
is  to  reach  the  parents  through  the  children  in  the  public  schools. 


NEW  YORK.  213 

Twenty  municipal  centers,  each  in  a  public  scliool,  are  to  be  estab- 
lished, and  forums  are  to  be  held  in  each. — [Christian  Science  Moni- 
tor, Boston,  Mass.,  Oct.  1,  1919.] 
Assistance  for  Service  Men  and  Their  Families. 

The  governor  has  a  etoed  the  bill  to  extend  to  soldiers  and  sailors 
from  the  State  atIio  enlisted  in  the  World  War  the  privileges  of  the 
soldiers'  and  sailors'  home.  The  bill,  he  said,  should  involve  a 
broader  principle  so  that  it  would  include  not  only  enlisted  men,  but 
all  who  fought  against  Germany.  The  governor  further  disapproved 
the  bill  because  he  believes  whatever  assistance  the  State  is  to  ren- 
der to  the  young  men  should  be  done  as  far  as  possible  in  their  own 
homes.— [Herald,  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  Mar.  8,  1919.] 

By  a  special  act  of  the  legislature,  heirs  of  municipal  employees 
w  ho  died  in  military  or  naval  service  up  to  the  close  of  the  year  of  1918 
were  granted  full  pay  from  the  time  of  death  until  the  end  of  the 
year  1918.  This  is  irrespective  of  the  Federal  insurance  benefits. 
Among  the  subcommittees  of  the  maj^or's  committee  of  welcome  is 
one  operating  a  soldier-service  bureau  where  legal,  medical,  and 
family  aid  may  be  obtained. —  [Letter  from  secretary,  New  York 
City  mayor's  committee  of  welcome  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National 
Defense,  Apr.  4,  1919.] 

An  act  was  approved  May  5  authorizing  the  establishment  of  in- 
dustrial-aid bureaus  by  municipal  corporations  and  the  furnishing 
of  assistance  to  the  unemployed  during  the  reconstruction  period. — 
[Laws  of  New  York,  1919,  ch.  404.] 

An  act,  approved  March  27,  provides  for  the  burial  of  the  bodies 
of  honorably  discharged  soldiers,  sailors,  or  marines,  or  the  bodies  of 
their  wives  or  widows  provided  they  do  not  leave  sufficient  means  to 
defray  the  funeral  expenses.  These  expenses  must  not  exceed  $75. — 
[Laws  of  New  York,  1919,  ch.  110.] 

The  city  council  of  Buffalo  has  approved  a  recommendation  of 
the  commissioner  of  finance  and  accounts  that  Buffalo  soldiers  un- 
able to  find  work  or  physically  incapacitated  be  paid  by  the  city  a 
salary  of  $12  per  week  for  one  month. — [Letter  from  deputy  com- 
missioner of  Buffalo  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  24, 
1919.] 

Under  the  direction  of  the  United  States  Navy  Department,  an 
office  has  been  opened  in  New  York  City  to  render  first-aid  to  dis- 
charged sailors  who  are  seeking  employment.  The  American  Red 
Cross,  Salvation  Army,  Knights  of  Columbus,  War  Camp  Commu- 
nity Service,  and  police  department  are  all  cooperating  with  this 
bureau.  The  office  is  also  assisting  sailors  in  collecting  the  $60  bonus 
to  which  they  are  entitled  on  their  discharge. — [World,  New  York, 
N.  Y.,  Apr.  4,  1919.] 


214        UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  REC.'ONSTRUCTION. 

"  Back-to-School "  Drive. 

The  committee  in  New  York  City  for  the  " Back-to-scliool"  drive 
and  "  Stay-in-school "  campaign  has  sent  100,000  dodgers  into  homes 
by  means  of  the  school  children. — [Report  of  child  conservation  sec- 
tion of  the  Field  Division  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Oct. 
1,  1918,  to  July  1,  1919.] 
Bonuses  for  Service  Men. 

Under  the  State  law,  every  soldier  or  Sailor  who  served  in  the 
war  with  Germany  and  Austria,  and  who  was  in  the  municipal  serv- 
ice at  the  time  of  his  entry  into  the  service  of  the  United  States,  re- 
ceives the  difference  between  his  civil  and  military  or  naval  salary 
during  such  military  or  naval  service. — [Letter  from  secretary,  New 
York  City  mayor's  committee  of  welcome  to  U.  S.  Council  of  Na- 
tional Defense,  Apr.  4,  1919.] 

Tlie  city  council  of  Troy,  at  the  suggestion  of  the  mayor,  has 
passed  a  resolution  setting  aside  $5,000  to  pay  in  advance  the  bonus 
of  $60  due  the  discharged  soldiers  from  the  Government,  which  it 
may  not  be  possible  to  get  for  some  time.  The  American  Red  Cross 
will  act  as  a  clearing  house  and  investigate  each  case  carefully  be- 
fore the  city  advances  the  money. — [Knickerbocker  Press,  Albany, 
N.  Y.,  Mar.  28,  1919.] 
Building  Activity. 

The  extent  to  which  the  present  high  rates  have  been  brought 
about  by  the  decrease  of  building  during  the  war  is  shown  in  a 
report  on  business  readjustment  and  unemployment,  which  the  re- 
construction commission  made  recently  to  the  governor,  following 
an  investigation  covering  the  condition  of  industry  throughout  the 
State.  The  report  states  that  what  is  needed  to  promote  a  speedy 
resumption  of  normal  building  and  construction  activities  is  either 
stabilization  of  present  prices  of  materials  by  the  Federal  Gov- 
ernment, or  such  stimulation  of  competition  as  will  break  up  the 
present  market,  which  reflects  past  rather  than  current  conditions, 
and  produce  a  readjustment  of  material  prices.  As  a  means  of 
stimulating  business,  the  commission  recommends  that  the, governor 
urge  the  heads  of  departments  to  expedite  all  authorized  public 
works  for  which  funds  are  available;  that  the  highway  department 
submit  its  program  immediately  to  the  Secretary  of  Agriculture  and 
steps  be  taken  to  take  advantage  of  Federal  aid  in  road  building; 
.md  that  a  conference  of  county  supervisors  be  called  with  a  view 
to  getting  the  counties  to  enlarge  their  building  and  improvement 
plans.  The  report  also  recommends  a  conference  of  mayors  to  urge 
them  to  provide  funds  for  public  improvements ;  and  for  New  York 
City,  rapid  transit  construction,  development  of  the  port  with  funds 
of  the  dock  department,  building  of  garbage  disposal  j^lants,  appropri- 
ations for  terminal  markets,  and  the  adoption  of  j)lans  for  sewage 


NEW  YORK.  215 

disposal.  The  report  includes  a  number  of  authorized  public  im- 
provements throughout  the  State  showing  available  city,  county,  and 
State  funds  of  $155,000,000  for  works,  the  estimated  cost  of  which 
IS  $193,000,000,  and  the  completion  of  which  the  commission  says 
would  employ  a  large  number  of  men  in  the  next  eight  months,  in 
addition  to  the  stimulation  which  this  work  would  give  to  other 
lines. — [Pamphlet,  Eeport  of  The  Governor's  Eeconstruction  Com- 
mission on  Business  Eeadjustment  and  Unemployment,  Executive 
Chamber,  Albany,  K  Y.,  Apr.  11,  1919.] 

A  definite  plan  for  the  stimulation  of  building  on  a  scale  compre- 
hensive enough  to  remedy  the  apartment  shortage  by  next  winter 
w  ill  be  presented  to  the  executive  committee  of  the  State  reconstruc- 
tion commission.  It  is  expected  that  there  will  be  no  time  lost  in 
beginning  the  erection  of  apartment  houses  in  New  York  City  through 
the  use  of  private  capital.  The  chairman  of  the  State  reconstruction 
commission  stated  that  the  solution  of  the  housing  problem  in  New 
York  City  was  even  more  serious  than  that  of  unemployment,  and 
that  a  thorough  plan  for  immediate  construction  was  necessary.  The 
tax  commissioner,  who  is  head  of  the  mayor's  committee  on  rent 
profiteering,  has  reported  signs  of  w^illingness  on  the  part  of  land- 
lords to  compromise  in  their  rent  demands  and  in  some  cases  to 
forego  them  entirely.— [Times,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Apr.  23,  1919.] 

A  joint  session  of  the  State  reconstruction  commission  and  the 
legislative  investigating  committee  was  held  June  30,  at  which  several 
builders  appeared  and  described  present  conditions  in  their  business. 
The  testimonj^  indicated  an  increase  in  construction  since  the  armi- 
stice, but  the  builders  said  they  w^ere  handicapped  by  labor  troubles 
and  inability  to  get  all  necessary  materials. — [Evening  Sun,  New 
York,  N.  Y.,  June  30,  1919.] 

A  member  of  the  committee  on  housing  of  the  State  reconstruction 
commission  reports  that  Buffalo  has  formed  a  civic  association  for 
the  stimulation  of  building  and  for  the  zoning  of  the  city.  It  is  ex- 
pected that  contractors  and  real  estate  men  will  join  with  this  asso- 
ciation and  give  practical  cooperation  to  its  campaign. — [News, 
Yonkers,  N.  Y.,  May  13, 1919.] 
Business  Readjustment. 

Tliat  the  industries  of  the  State  are  gradually  increasing  their 
activities,  thereby  causing  encouraging  improvement  in  the  general 
unemployment  situation,  is  indicated  in  a  preliminary  analysis  of  a 
report  issued  by  the  bureau  of  statistics  of  the  State  industrial  com- 
mission.—[Journal,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  May  8,  1919.] 
Community  Organization. 

TJiirty  thousand  dollars  have  been  raised  by  private  subscription 
for  the  work  of  the  community  coimcils  of  defense  for  Greater  New 
lYork  for  the  next  year.     The  Americanization,  health,  and  recreation 


216       UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

committees  each  will  receive  $10,000.  The  amount  already  sub- 
scribed amounts  to  nearly  one-half  of  the  sum  required  and  is  con- 
ditional on  the  collection  of  $50,000  for  the  general  fund. — [Times- 
Press,  Middletown,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  25,  1919.] 

In  order  to  accompany  returning  service  men  back  into  civil  life, 
and  incidentally  to  better  local  government  and  seize  the  socializing 
opportunity  afforded  by  the  vacating  of  the  corner  saloons,  the  War 
Camp  Community  Service  has  organized  "  Block-unions,"  com- 
munity organizations  including  every  resident  of  every  house,  which, 
besides  providing  entertainment  in  the  form  of  community  singing 
and  lectures,  settle  local  disputes  and  neighborhood  discussions. 
The  plan  is  based  on  the  military  and  the  labor-union  form  of  organi- 
zation and  through  its  already  practical  results  has  won  the  support 
of  the  people  in  the  so-called  bridge  district  on  the  East  Side,  where 
the  block-unions  w^ere  first  organized. — [Times,  New  York,  N.  Y., 
Mar.  9,  1919.] 

The  New  York  community  council  of  national  defense  has  geo- 
graphically divided  the  city  into  about  400  sections  for  the  purpose 
of  establishing  a  community  council  in  each  section.  The  council's 
headquarters  varies  in  each  case.  It  is  sometimes  a  settlement,  some- 
times a  church,  sometimes  a  labor  union.  Any  organization  which 
already  tends  to  bring  the  people  of  a  given  neighborhood  together  is 
invited  to  cooperate  in  the  work.  It  is  desired  to  establish  a  central 
organization  actually  responsive  to  the  aims  and  aspirations  of  New 
York,  representing  all  of  its  conflicting  interests  and  interpreting 
its  collective  will.  Such  an  organization,  it  is  thought,  would  be 
the  natural  social  center  of  New  York. — [World,  New  York,  N.  Y., 
Apr.  6,  1919.] 

The  American  city  bureau  of  New  York  City  opened  a  school  at 
Eaglesmere  Park,  Pa.,  on  July  14,  to  train  persons  for  community 
leadership.  The  subjects  taught  at  the  school  are:  Industrial  rela- 
tions, factory  forums  as  a  means  of  meeting  industrial  unrest,  pro- 
portional representation,  city  planning,  taxation,  social  and  labor 
legislation,  housing,  utility  problems,  industrial  democracy,  foreign- 
trade  promotion,  Americanization,  farm  bureaus,  and  industrial  ex- 
pansion. Over  200  persons  are  in  attendance,  most  of  them  being 
secretaries  of  chambers  of  commerce. — [Tribune,  New  York,  N.  Y., 
Aug.  8,  1919.] 

Compensation  of  State  Employees. 

In  recognition  of  the  continued  increased  cost  of  living  occasioned 
by  the  war  with  the  German  Empire  and  its  allies,  the  legislature 
has  enacted  a  law  providing  that  during  the  fiscal  year  beginning 
July  1,  1919,  all  State  employees  paid  at  a  rate  less  than  $1,400  per 
annum  shall  receive  a  10  per  cent  additional  compensation;  and 


NEW  YORK.  217 

those  paid  at  a  rate  between  $1,400  and  $2,500  shall  be  given  an  in- 
crease of  $100  per  annum. — [Laws  of  New  York,  1919,  eh.  602.] 

Council  of  Defense. 

By  act  of  tlie  legislature  the  State  council  of  defense  has  been 
abolished.— [Laws  of  New  York,  1919,  ch.  123.] 
Demobilization  of  Service  Men. 

The  State  reconstruction  commission  has  rendered  a  report  to  the 
governor  in  which  it  is  stated  that  if  demobilization  increases  at  the 
present  rate  there  may  be  danger  of  a  congestion  of  up-State  and 
New  England  ex-aoldiers  in  Manhattan.  With  a  view  to  avoiding 
the  threatened  jannning  of  the  city  Avith  these  men  the  commission, 
its  report  shows,  has  under  consideration  plans  to  establish  sub- 
demobilization  points  at  one  or  two  points  up-State  and  perhaps 
in  New  England,  especially  in  Connecticut  and  Rhode  Island,  and  so 
divert  the  stream  of  discharged  men  now^  coming  into  Manhattan 
from  Camp  Upton.— [Sun,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  May  4,  1919.] 

Education  of  Returned  Service  Men. 

Chapter  TG  of  the  acts  of  1918  provides  that  all  persons  having  en- 
tered the  military  or  naval  service  since  April  6,  1917,  holding  a  State 
scholarship  in  Cornell  University  at  the  time  of  entering  the  service, 
may  reassume  such  scholarship  at  any  time  within  one  year  after 
the  termination  of  the  war. — [Information  Bureau,  American  Na- 
tional Red  Cross,  Comi^endium  Change  No.  117.] 

An  act,  approved  May  13,  provides  for  three  scholarships  for 
each  assembly  district,  open  to  all  men  honorably  discharged  from 
service  during  the  present  war.  Each  scholarship  includes  tuition, 
not  to  exceed  $100,  in  any  college,  university,  normal,  technical,  or 
trade  school  of  the  man's  selection,  located  within  the  State,  plus  an 
additional  sum  of  $100  a  year  toward  maintenance  of  the  holder  of 
the  scholarship.  The  scholarship  is  based  upon  competitive  exam- 
ination.—[Laws  of  New  York,  1919,  ch.  G06.] 

The  department  of  education  of  the  city  council  of  Buffalo  has 
appointed  an  advisory  commission  to  advise  returning  soldiers  who 
apply  relative  to  educational  facilities  and  pursuits. — [Letter  from 
deputy  commissioner  of  Buffalo  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  De- 
fense, Mar.  24,  1919.] 

Employment. 

The  Empire  State  Gas  &  Electric  Association  has  announced  the 
result  of  its  canvass  to  determine  what  jobs  crippled  soldiers,  seamen, 
and  marines  could  hold.  According  to  a  report  to  the  governor,  giv- 
ing information  of  the  projected  reconstruction  committee  and  of 
the  Federal  employment  service,  there  will  be  jobs  for  all  but  the 
t(  tall}^  disabled  or  totally  blind.  The  canvass  of  the  lighting  com- 
panies shows  men  can  be  used  as  follows:  89  per  cent  of  engineering 


218        UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

unci  office  positions  for  men  with  one  eye;  86  per  cent  of  places  in 
plants  and  on  mains  for  men  with  one  eye;  25  per  cent  of  inside  and 
18  per  cent  of  outside  i)ositions  for  men  with  one  arm;  more  than 
one-half  of  inside  and  one-third  of  outside  work  for  men  w^ith  one 
leg;  10  per  cent  of  office  jobs  for  men  with  no  legs;  and  1  per  cent 
of  outside  positions  for  men  with  no  legs. — [Herald,  Xew  York, 
N.  Y.,  Jan.  7,  1919.] 

Under  the  terms  of  a  resolution  adopted  b}^  the  assembly,  the 
governor  is  directed  to  issue  a  proclamation  calling  on  all  emploj^ers 
in  the  State  to  give  returning  soldiers  their  former  positions. — 
[Evening  Sun,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  18,  1919.] 

It  is  aimed  to  have  a  job  waiting  for  every  man  of  the  Seventy- 
seventh  Division  when  he  is  discharged.  The  business  men  of  New 
York  have  responded  in  such  a  way  as  to  assure  success  to  the  project. 
A  card  index,  classifying  every  member  of  the  division,  has  been 
compiled  through  the  company  and  platoon  leaders  in  France.  Many 
New  York  employers  have  been  found  in  the  ranks  of  the  Seventy- 
seventh  and  they  have  agreed  to  reemploy  several  thousand  of  their 
comrades.  About  22,400  members  of  the  division  have  been  assured 
of  employment  immediately  after  discharge.  There  remain  approxi- 
mately 4,600  men  for  whom  jobs  must  be  found,  but  the  Seventy- 
seventh  Division  Association,  working  wath  the  employment  agencies 
of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  American  Eed  Cross,  and 
Knights  of  Columbus,  expects  to  place  them  all  before  demobiliza- 
tion.—[World,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Mar.  19,  1919.] 

Failure  of  Congress  to  appropriate  funds  needed  for  the  mali\- 
tenance  of  the  Federal  employment  service  made  it  necessary  for 
the  service  to  accept  the  offer  of  financial  assistance  from  private 
sources  in  order  to  continue  its  work  of  finding  places  for  discharged 
service  men.  This  assistance,  it  is  believed,  will  obviate  the  neces- 
sity of  making  drastic  reductions  in  the  service. — [Christian  Science 
Monitor,  Boston,  Mass.,  Mar.  20,  1919.] 

The  governor  has  transmitted  to  the  legislature  a  report  from  the 
reconstruction  commission  on  the  unemployment  situation  in  the 
State,  and  recommended  the  enactment  of  legislation  to  make  avail- 
able immediately  the  sum  of  $50,000  for  the  employment  bureaus  of 
the  State  industrial  commission.  The  report  recommended  the 
maintenance  of  cooperative  relationship  wath  the  United  States 
Employment  Service,  enlargement  of  the  system  of  State  employ- 
ment agencies,  and  support  of  existing  employment  bureaus  by 
municipal  officers,  volunteer  agencies,  and  organized  labor.  Follow- 
ing the  reading  of  the  message  a  bill  was  introduced  in  the  legisla- 
ture carrying  out  the  recommendations. — [Post,  New  York,  N.  Y., 
Mar.  20,  1919.] 


NEW   YORK.  219 

Under  <a  reorganization  plan  of  the  Federal  employment  service 
in  Xew  York,  due  to  the  failure  of  Congress  to  appropriate  funds 
therefor,  about  one-half  of  the  service's  branch  offices  in  the  city 
and  one-half  of  those  in  the  State  are  to  be  retained.  The  plan 
provides  that  the  working  staff  of  the  service  is  to  be  reduced,  but 
more  experts  in  employment  are  to  be  utilized.  The  cost  of  opera- 
tion, which  for  the  State  is  about  $1,000,000  a  year,  is  to  be  reduced 
40  per  cent.  The  volunteer  employment  work  done  by  the  War 
Camp  Community  Service,  the  Jewish  Welfare  Board,  the  Knights 
of  Columbus,  the  Young  Men's  and  the  Young  Women's  Christian 
Associations,  and  the  Salvation  Army  is  to  be  coordinated.-^- [Tri- 
bune, New  York,  N.  Y.,  Mar.  20,  1919.] 

The  State  employment  service  is  especially  charged  with  finding 
positions  for  return-ed  soldiers,  and  works  in  cooperation  with  the 
United  States  Employment  Service. — [Letter  from  secretary.  New 
York  State  Reconstruction  Commission  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National 
Defense,  Apr.  2,  1919.] 

As  a  means  of  meeting  the  emergency  created  b}-  the  recent  curtail- 
ment of  the  Federal  employment  service  in  the  State,  the  legislature 
has  enacted  a  bill  appropriating  $50,000  to  the  State  industrial  com- 
mission for  the  establishment  and  maintenance  during  the  present 
fiscal  year  of  such  additional  employment  offices  as  may  be  neces- 
sary. The  act  also  makes  provisions  for  the  acceptance  of  Federal 
and  other  assistance  in  carrying  on  the  work. — [Laws  of  New  York, 
1919,  ch.  155.] 

An  act,  approved  May  5,  provides  for "  the  appointment  of 
industrial-aid  commissioners  in  cities,  villages,  and  other  subdivi- 
sions of  the  State,  to  find  work  for  the  unemployed,  and  with  broad 
powers  to  furnish  necessary  shelter,  fuel,  food,  and  clothing  to 
unemployed  persons  Avho  have  been  residents  of  their  districts  for  a 
year.  Its  purpose  is  to  furnish  assistance  to  unemployed  persons 
during  the  war  readjustment  period. — [LaAvs  of  New  York,  1919,  ch. 
401.] 

Under  an  act,  approved  May  12,  an  appropriation  is  made  to  the 
State  industrial  commission  for  the  work  of  the  bureau  of  employ- 
ment: of  the  State  department  of  labor,  for  the  period  between  Julv 
1,  1919,  and  February  29,  1920.— [Laws  of  New  York,  1919,  ch.  591.] 

Following  the  request  of  the  United  States  Employment  Service 
in  February  to  the  War  Camp  Community  Service  and  other  organi- 
zations that  they  assume  a  direct  responsibility  in  employment  work, 
the  War  Camp  Community  Service  turned  its  attention  to  placing 
soldiers  in  positions.  The  field  was  broadened  through  the  Hall  of 
States,  a  department  organized  chiefly  for  the  purpose  of  welcoming 
returned  soldiers;  but  which  in  the  field  of  employment  offered  a 
means  of  obtaining  jobs  for  soldiers  and  sailors  in  other  States,  re- 


220       UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

qiiests  for  large  numbers  of  ^Yorkers  being  telegraphed  in  from 
States  throughout  the  country.  Another  effective  means  used  was 
the  securing  of  free  insertion  in  Albany,  Yonkers,  and  New  York 
City  newspapers  of  situations  wanted  and  advertisements  for  sol- 
diers, a  number  of  discharged  men  obtaining  positions  in  this  way. — 
[Report  of  War  Camp  Community  Service  for  U.  S.  Council  of  Na- 
tional Defense,  August,  1919.] 

Employment  offices  maintained  in  NeAv  York  State  by  the  Federal 
Government  in  cooperation  with  State  and  local  organizations  report 
that  during  the  six  months'  period  January  1  to  June  30,  1919, 
308,783  persons  were  registered  who  were  seeking  employment; 
379,822  requests  for  employees  were  received;  and  181,260  persons 
were  placed  by  these  offices. — [Compiled  from  statistics  furnished  by 
U.  S.  Employment  Service,  Aug.  8,  1919.] 

Citations  have  been  issued  by  the  United  States  War  and  Navy 
Departments  to  3,446  firms  in  the  State,  these  employers  having  as- 
sured the  departments  that  they  will  reemploy  every  returned  service 
man  who  formerly  worked  for  them  and  left  to  serve  in  the  Army 
or  Navy  during  the  World  War. — [Memorandum  from  assistant  to 
Secretary  of  War  in  the  replacement  of  service  men  to  civil  life, 
to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Nov.  20,  1919.] 

The  community  organizer  in  Albany  contributed  effective  as- 
sistance in  securing  jobs  through  the  War  Camp  Community  Service 
soldiers'  and  sailors'  club.  Lists  of  all  the  members  of  the  club  who 
were  unemployed  were  distributed  to  the  employment  bureaus  of  the 
city. — [Report  of  War  Camp  Community  Service  for  U.  S.  Council 
of  National  Defense,  August,  1919.] 

The  Brooklyn  victory  celebration  committee  has  established  a 
labor-emplo^aiient  bureau.  In  cooperation  with  this  bureau  the  entire 
police  force  of  New  York  City  will  be  sent  out  to  canvass  the  city 
for  jobs  for  returning  soldiers.  In  this  way  it  is  expected  to  find 
thousands  of  jobs  which  can  be  filled  by  ex-service  men. — [Evening 
Sun,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  19, 1919.] 

A  drive  to  obtain  jobs  for  the  returning  soldiers  and  sailors, 
through  a  systematic  canvass  of  factories  and' business  houses  where 
large  numbers  of  men  are  employed,  has  been  started  by  the  woman's 
naval  service  in  cooperation  with  the  War  Camp  Community  Serv- 
ice and  the  Federal  labor  bureau. —  [Eagle,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  Mar. 
10,  1919.] 

The  mayor  of  Buffalo  has  had  a  citizens'  committee  working  for 
several  months,  through  paid  officials,  securing  employment  for  re- 
turning soldiers  and  sailors,  and  he  has  also  had  active  cooperation 
from  other  committees  representing  the  chamber  of  commerce,  local 
draft  boards,  the  Knights  of  Columbus,  and  similar  bodies. — [Tele- 


NEW   YORK.  221 

I 

gram  from  secretary  of  mayor  of  Buffalo  to  U.  S.  Council  of  Na- 
tional Defense,  Mar.  15,  1919.] 

Br.ffalo  through  the  citizens  committee  provides  jobs  for  soldiers 
and  pays  those  not  employed  and  in  need  $12  a  week  from  the  city 
treasury.  The  employment  office  has  worked  so  well,  however,  that 
the  finance  commissioner  who  distributes  the  allowances  has  on  his 
rolls  only  8  men  from  among  15,000  soldiers  returned  to  civil  life. 
This  committee  is  headed  by  a  business  man  and  is  composed  of  men 
who  employ  mechanical  and  clerical  help.  It  handles  soldiers,  sailors, 
and  marines  exclusively  in  the  matter  of  employment.  It  has  the 
cooperation  of  the  State  emplo}' ment  bureau  and  agents  of  the  various 
soldiers'  Avelfare  organizations.  Soldiers  are  listed  for  employment 
immediately  upon  landing  from  overseas  or  upon  their  return  to  the 
city  in  casual  contingents.  By  a  S3^stem  of  canvassing  former  em- 
ployers fully  50  per  cent  of  the  returning  men  are  placed  in  jobs 
they  left  to  enter  the  service.  By  the  cooperation  of  4,000  or  more 
employers  others  are  readily  placed.  The  allowance  fund  of  $12  a 
week  for  soldiers  who  could  not  secure  positions  was  established  two 
months  ago  by  the  city  council  on  suggestion  of  the  finance  conimis- 
Bioner.— [Times,  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  May  13,  1919.] 

The  Chamber  of  Commerce  of  Gloversville  is  taking  up  the  work 
relinquished  by  the  office  of  the  United  States  Employment  Service. 
Every  effort  is  being  made  to  provide  employment  for  returned  sol- 
diers and  sailors. — [Publication  of  the  Gloversville  Chamber  of 
Commerce,  February,  1919.] 

The  mayor's  committee  of  welcome  has  opened  a  centralized  em- 
ployment bureau  in  New  York  City.  Expert  employment  managers 
from  every  shipyard  of  the  Atlantic  Coast  Shipbuilders'  Associa- 
tion, New  York  section,  have  been  assigned  to  the  committee's  offices. 
Applicants  will  be  interviewed  and  if  qualified  will  be  hired  imme- 
diately. Men  not  fitted  for  work  in  the  yards  will  be  offered  a 
course  of  instruction  at  schools.  They  will  be  paid  at  the  rate  of  46 
cents  an  hour  during  the  course.  The  bureau  is  being  conducted 
with  the  cooperation  of  the  Federal  employment  service. — [Mail, 
New  York,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  3,  1919.] 

In  cooperation  with  the  United  States  Employment  Service,  the 
New  York  Merchants'  Association  has  sent  to  all  its  members  a  let- 
ter calling  attention  to  the  placement  facilities  offered  by  its  profes- 
sional division.  In  this  letter  it  has  requested  that  all  employers 
who  can  utilize  the  services  of  released  Army  and  Navy  men  in  busi- 
ness and  professional  positions  communicate  with  the  division.  The 
professional  division  is  equipped  with  a  staff  of  experts  and  under- 
takes to  place  men  who  are  qualified  by  education  and  experience  for 
service  in  the  executive  branches  of  business  and  in  the  professions. — • 


222       UI^ITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

[Publication  of  the  Merchants'  Association  of  New  York,  Jan.  C, 
1919,] 

Four  comprehensive  schemes  for  canvassing  New  York  City  in 
search  of  jobs  for  discharged  soldiers  and  sailors  are  now  in  full 
operation  under  the  Federal  employment  service.  Several  thousand 
field  workers  are  making  office-to-office,  store-to-store,  and  factory-to- 
factory  canvasses  to  ask  employers  whether  they  have  any  jobs  open 
and  whether  they  can  not  extend  their  business  so  as  to  employ  more 
than  their  present  facilities  permit.  The  Salvation  Army,  War  Camp 
Community  Service,  Jewish  Welfare  Board,  Knights  of  Columbus, 
National  League  for  Woman's  Service,  and  American  Red  Cross  are 
all  cooperating  with  the  employment  service  in  this  work. — [Tribune, 
New  York,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  22,  1919.] 

In  New  York  City  the  mayor's  committee  of  women  on  employ- 
ment and  relief  are  considering  the  proposition  of  taking  over  the 
employment  service  in  the  hall  of  records.  It  will  be  the  endeavor 
of  the  mayor's  committee  and  also  of  the  city  officials  to  give  every 
IDOssible  aid  and  assistance  in  securing  positions  for  returning  sol- 
dier's, sailors,  and  marines. — [Letter  from  mayor  of  New  York  City 
to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  15,  1919.] 

In  reply  to  a  letter  received  by  the  merchants'  association  from  the 
State  reconstruction  commission  asking  to  what  extent  the  discharge 
in  or  about  New  York  City  of  service  men  who  should  properly  be  dis- 
charged nearer  their  homes  or  places  of  enlistment  was  a  contributing 
factor  to  the  unemployment  situation,  it  was  stated  that  the  United 
States  War  Department's  method  of  demobilizing  soldiers  had  no 
appreciable  effect  upon  the  employment  situation  in  New  York  City 
at  the  present  time.  It  was  explained  that  the  local  situation  had 
improved,  due  chiefly  to  the  work  of  representatives  of  the  LTnited 
States  Department  of  Labor  aboard  returning  transports ;  the  regu- 
lation of  the  United  States  War  Department  alloAving  the  soldier  to 
remain  in  the  service  until  he  has  obtained  a  position;  and  above  all 
the  realization  of  the  problem  by  the  camp  personnel  officers,  the 
camp  representatives  of  the  Federal  employment  service.  Army  chap- 
lains, and  workers  of  the  various  soldier  welfare  organizations  who 
have  endeavored  to  impress  upon  the  soldier  that  he  should  not  plan 
to  seek  work  in  other  places  than  his  home  city. — [Greater  New 
York,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Mar.  17,  1919.] 

Under  the  State  law^  the  position  of  every  soldier  and  sailor  who 
served  in  the  war  with  Germany  and  Austria  and  who  was  in  the 
municipal  service  at  the  time  of  his  entry  into  the  service  of  the 
United  States  is  reserved  and  is  open  to  him  on  the  date  of  his  dis- 
charge. Men  in  the  service  have  received  all  the  rights  in  respect 
to  salary  increases  and  promotions  that  they  would  have  received 


NEW  YORK.  223 

had  tbey  remained  in  their  civil  duties.  The  provisions  of  this  act 
have  been  extended  so  as  to  apply  to  female  emplo^^ees  in  brandies  of 
the  municipal  government  ^vho  had  taken  up  duties  as  yeowomen. — 
[Letter  from  secretary.  New  York  City  mayor's  committee  of  wel- 
come to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Apr.  4,  1919.] 

In  view  of  the  curtailment  of  the  work  of  tlie  United  States  Em- 
ployment Service,  the  Merchants'  Association  of  New  York,  in  con- 
junction V  ith  other  commercial  and  trade  organizations  of  the  city, 
lias  undertaken  to  bring  about  an  organization  of  employers  to  find 
places  for  returning  soldiers.  The  association  has  also  induced  the 
various  welfare  organizations  and  emjDloyment  services  to  reorgan- 
ize their  soldiers  reemplo^anent  Avork  and  to  coordinate  it  with  that 
of  the  employers.  An  employers'  council  on  soldier  reemployment 
lias  been  formed  to  find  jobs,  acting  with  the  united  council  for  re- 
employment which  finds  men  to  fill  the  places.  Both  these  councils 
will  be  under  the  direction  of  a  joint  executive  committee  of  11  mem- 
bers. A  plan  for  cooperation  between  the  various  organizations  as- 
sisting in  soldier  employment  work,  so  as  to  form  the  united  council 
for  reemployment,  has  been  approved  by  the  council.  In  order  to 
form  the  employers'  council  on  soldier  emplojanent,  a  conference 
representative  of  commercial  and  trade  organizations  was  held,  at 
which  the  chairman  was  directed  to  appoint  an  executive  committee 
to  have  active  charge  of  the  campaign  and  the  drive  for  positions 
Avhich  will  be  undertaken  by  the  employers'  council.  This  committee 
with  a  similar  committee  from  the  united  council  for  reemployment 
will  constitute  the  joint  executive  committee  in  charge  of  the  entire 
work  of  soldier  reemployment  in  the  city.  A  tentative  plan  for 
organization  of  the  soldier  reemployment  campaign  is  under  con- 
sideration.— [Publication  of  the  Merchants'  Association  of  New 
York,  Apr.  7,  1919.] 

To  open  an  avenue  of  self-support  to  disabled  soldiers  and  sailors 
and  to  those  physically  handicapped  as  a  result  of  accident  or 
disease  contracted  in  civil  pursuits,  the  committee  on  newsdealing 
privileges  for  the  handicapped  of  the  American  Eed  Cross  has  pre- 
pared an  amendment  to  a  city  ordinance  which  deals  with  the  grant- 
ing of  new  licenses  for  news  stands  within  stoop  lines  and  under 
elevated  railroad  stations.  This  amendment,  which  was  brought 
before  the  board  of  aldermen,  provides  that  hereafter  all  news-stand 
licenses,  except  renewals  of  existing  licenses  to  the  same  person,  shall 
be  issued  first,  to  honorably  discharged  soldiers  and  sailors ;  and  sec- 
ond, to  other  physically  handicapped  persons. — [Post,  New  York, 
N.  Y.,  Apr.  15,  1919.] 

The  mayor  of  Niagara  has  appointed  a  committee  having  to  do 
v/ith  returned  service  men.  The  appointment  of  a  board  has  also 
been  authorized  for  the  purpose  of  securing  employment  for  returned 


224        UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

soldiers,  sailors,  and  others  out  of  employment. — [Publication  of  the 
Niagara  Falls  Chamber  of  Commerce,  Jan.  4,  1919.] 

The  work  of  placing  the  men  became  the  chief  function  of  the  War 
Camp  Community  Service  in  Rochester  during  the  spring.  The 
community  organizer  was  one  of  a  committee  of  five  who  directed 
employment  activities  and  made  a  canvass  of  the  employers  of  the 
city. — [Report  of  War  Camp  Community  Service  for  U.  S.  Council 
of  National  Defense,  August,  1919.] 

The  Federal  employment  bureau  in  Troy,  w^hich  is  being  operated 
en  a  joint  basis  by  the  Federal  Government  and  the  Troy  Chamber 
of  Commerce,  is  obtaining  positions  for  a  large  number  of  persons. 
It  is  stated  that  employers  in  the  city  are  cooperating  splendidly  in 
placing  ex-service  men,  and  that  little  or  no  difficulty  is  experienced 
in  finding  them  employment. — [Times,  Troy,  N.  Y.,  Mar.  28, 1919.] 
Food  Control. 

The  State  reconstruction  commission,  through  its  committee  on  food 
production  and  distribution,  is  to  hold  a  public  hearing  on  producer 
and  consumer  cooperation.  The  director  of  the  bureau  of  cooperative 
associations  of  the  State  department  of  farms  and  markets  will  dis- 
cuss the  growth  of  producers'  cooperative  societies  in  the  State  and 
the  policy  of  the  State  toward  cooperative  organizations. — [Post, 
New  York,  N.  Y.,  Apr.  10,  1919.] 

The  State  reconstruction  commission  has  taken  up  the  status  of  the 
food  trades,  with  a  view  to  putting  into  effect  permanently  such  of  the 
war-time  regulations  as  worked  out  advantageously  under  unusual 
stress,  together  with  such  measures  of  trade  regulations  as  the  business 
men  feel  to  be  desirable. — [Journal  of  Commerce,  New  York,  N.  Y., 
Apr.  14, 1919.] 

The  activities  of  the  war-time  State  food  commission  were  termi- 
nated on  June  30,  1919,  under  act  of  the  legislature.  Provision  is 
made,  how^ever,  for  the  continuance  of  the  bureau  of  food  production 
of  the  commission  until  October  31,  1919,  under  the  State  council  of 
farms  and  markets,  and  for  the  continuance  of  the  w^ork  of  recruiting 
farm  hands  during  the  1919  season  until  October  1,  1919,  to  be 
carried  on  under  the  State  industrial  commission. — [Laws  of  New 
York,  1919,  ch.  64.] 

The  State  reconstruction  commission  submitted  a  partial  report 
to  the  governor  on  August  11  on  conditions  contributing  to  the  high 
cost  of  living.  The  commission  recommended  that  authority  be 
given  to  the  State  department  of  food  and  markets  to  license  all 
wholesale  dealers  in  food  commodities  and  foodstuffs,  and  that  this 
State  council  of  farms  and  markets  be  empowered  to  regulate,  after 
public  hearings,  existing  uneconomical  practices. — [Herald,  New 
York,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  12,  1919. 


NEW   YORK.  225 

Food  Situation. 

A  conference  of  the  State  reconstruction  commission  was  held  in 
New  York  City  to  investigate  conditions  which  affect  the  food  trades. 
At  this  meeting  a  committee  of  10  from  Albany  was  present  to  dis- 
cuss food  conditions.  It  is  the  object  of  the  committee  to  investigate 
railway  conditions,  shipping  facilities,  storage  conditions,  etc.,  with 
the  view  of  ascertaining  how  the  present  laws  affect  the  conditions, 
and  whether  or  not  new  methods  are  advisable  and  necessary. — 
f  Leader,  Corning,  N.  Y.,  May  7,  1919.] 

Highways. 

The  secretary  of  the  highway  commission  of  the  State  advises  that 
the  State  has  authorized  two  bond  issues,  each  for  $50,000,000,  the 
proceeds  to  be  used  in  the  improvement  of  public  highways. 
Approximately  all  of  the  first  $50,000,000  has  been  expended,  and 
$35,000,000  of  the  second  $50,000,000  has  been  appropriated.  There 
are  no  bond  issues  pending  at  this  time  in  the  State  for  highway  im- 
provement.— [Bulletin  No.  46,  Highways  Transport  Committee,  U.  S. 
Council  of  National  Defense.] 

The  governor  has  signed  the  highway  maintenance  appropriation 
bill,  carrying  $5,000,000  for  resurfacing  and  reconstruction  of  high- 
ways. Most  of  the  roads  are  those  neglected  during  the  war.  Their 
reconstruction  is  expected  partially  to  aid  in  solving  the  unemploy- 
ment problem  by  providing  work  for  both  skilled  and  unskilled 
labor.— [Laws  of  New  York,  1919,  ch.  28.] 

A  bill  was  enacted  May  7  authorizing  the  termination,  upon  re- 
quest of  contractors,  of  highway  contracts  entered  into  before  the 
entrance  of  the  United  States  into  the  World  War;  conferring  juris- 
diction upon  the  court  of  claims  to  make  awards  for  increased  cost 
incurred  in  such  contracts;  and  making  an  appropriation  for  the 
completion  of  unfinished  work. 

On  May  12  an  act  was  approved  making  immediately  available  the 
sum  of  $5,000,000  for  the  construction  and  improvement  of  public 
highways.— [Laws  of  New  York,  1919,  chs.  459,  588.] 

On  October  1,  1919,  30  highway  projects  had  been  approved  in  the 
State,  involving  the  improvement  of  158.31  miles  of  road  at  a  total 
estimated  cost  of  $3,880,807.85,  of  which  the  Federal  Government 
is  requested  to  pay  $1,933,654.27  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of 
the  Federal-aid  road  act  of  July  11,  1916,  as  amended  by  the  act  of 
February  28, 1919. — [Statement  prepared  by  Bureau  of  Public  Roads, 
U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture.] 
Home  Bureaus. 

The    homemakers    have   come    together   in    a    State    federation, 
through  the  work  done  by  the  home  bureaus.     Active  work  was 
begun  when  the  organization  committee  of  the  federation  met  in 
134286°— 20 15 


228       UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

cent  on  capital  in  spite  of  present  high  cost  of  building. — [Wall  Street 
Journal,  New  York.  N.  Y.,  May  19,  1919.] 

The  chairman  of  the  reconstruction  commission,  at  a  meeting  in 
Albany,  announced  that  a  fund  of  $25,000,000  would  soon  be  avail- 
able to  assist  in  the  construction  of  dwellings  in  New  York  City  to 
overcome  housing  problems.  The  commission  plans,  he  said,  to  have 
similar  funds  created  in  other  parts  of  the  State  where  the  housing 
situation  is  found  to  be  acute.  The  governor  stressed  the  fact  that 
the  State  can  not  by  any  enactment  put  dwellings  on  vacant  lots.  He 
said  the  question  of  housing  resolved  itself  into  one  which  had  to  be 
dealt  with  directly  by  the  people.  Housing  problems  in  Albany  were 
considered  by  the  commission  also.  It  was  said  the  city  was  in  need 
of  dwellings  for  1,000  families. — [Evening  Bulletin,  Philadelphia, 
Pa.,  May  22, 1919.] 

At  the  first  meeting  of  the  Bronx  committee  on  housing,  it  Avas 
decided  to  do  five  things  at  once  in  the  landlord-and-tenant  contro- 
versies now  confronting  the  city:  To  launch  a  building  campaign 
in  cooperation  with  existing  agencies;  urge  arbitration  in  all  cases 
of  rent  disputes,  selecting  a  local  committee  for  such  arbitration ; 
conduct  a  campaign  of  general  education  on  the  laws  regarding 
the  rights  of  landlords  and  tenants ;  establish  a  "  Clean-up,  paint- 
up"  campaign  in  Bronx  apartments,  under  the  direction  of  health 
authorities ;  and  have  a  series  of  housing  meetings  in  every  locality  in 
the  county,  arranged  jointly  by  the  property  owners,  tenants,  builders, 
and  other  groups.  The  cooperation  of  every  agency  that  might  aid 
in  solving  the  housing  problem  will  be  brought  about  through  the 
community  councils  of  the  New  York  community  council  of  na- 
tional defense,  and  the  present  committee  will  be  broadened  by  the 
appointment  of  a  citizens'  committee  on  housing,  according  to  the 
plans  laid  down  at  the  meeting. — [Evening  World,  New  York,  N.  Y., 
May  22,  1919.] 

The  chairman  of  the  reconstruction  commission  has  announced  the 
organization  of  a  semiphilanthropic  housing  and  holding  corpora- 
tion, capitalized  at  $5,000,000,  to  build,  buy  and  sell  real  estate.  The 
plan  is  opposed  by  the  chairman  of  the  mayor's  committee  on  rent 
profiteering,  who  demands  a  special  session  of  the  legislature  to  pass 
legislation  enabling  the  issue  of  bonds  to  finance  building  operations 
by  individuals. — [American  Hebrew,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  May  23, 1919.J 

Out  of  the  entire  number  of  983,744  apartments  in  New  York 
City  only  8,596  are  empty,  according  to  a  police  canvass  of  the  situa- 
tion which  was  reported  to  the  mayor's  committee  on  rent  profiteer- 
ing. The  greatest  number  of  vacant  apartments  are  to  be  found  on 
the  East  Side.  Most  of  the  rent  raising  has  been  in  Washington 
Heights  and  The  Bronx.— [Globe,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  May  29,  1919.] 

Following  the  examination  of  a  number  of  savings-bank  officials 


NEW   YORK.  229 

b}'  the  joint  legislative  committee  on  the  housing  problem,  the  chair- 
man of  the  committee  announced  that  the  problem  of  providing  funds 
for  the  immediate  erection  of  dwellings  throughout  the  city  is  in  a 
fair  way  of  being  solved.  It  was  announced  that  the  life  insurance 
companies  and  savings  banks  of  the  city  had  already  promised  to 
lend  $30,000,000  on  mortgages  for  the  construction  of  new  homes. 
The  committee  has  estimated  that  $75,000,000  will  be  needed,  and  no 
difficulty  is  anticipated  in  getting  promises  for  loans  of  $50,000,000, 
Lud  possibly  the  full  amount.  It  was  said  the  trust  companies  will 
now  be  asked  by  the  committee  what  they  can  do  in  the  matter  of 
building  loans. — [Herald,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  June  14, 1919.] 

A  bill,  enacted  June  23,  was  framed  to  relieve  the  housing  situation 
in  New  York  Cit}^  It  empowers  savings  banks  to  invest  in  mort- 
gages on  real  estate  for  building  purposes  up  to  60  per  cent  of  the 
value  of  the  improved  property  at  once.  Under  the  present  law  sav- 
ings institutions  making  building  loans  are  permitted  to  advance  only 
40  per  cent  before  construction  has  begun  and  the  other  20  per  cent 
only  after  the  construction  of  the  building  covered  by  the  loan  has 
been  completed. — [Laws  of  New  York,  1919,  ch.  647.] 

Another  act,  approved  June  23,  intended  to  relieve  the  housing 
situation  amends  the  tenement-house  law  to  permit  the  remodeling 
of  four-story  basement  dwellings  into  apartment  houses,  to  accom- 
modate not  in  excess  of  four  families,  provided  there  be  no  dark, 
inside  rooms  in  the  reconstructed  houses,  and  that  all  stairways  are 
protected  by  fireproof  partitions. — [Laws  of  New  York,  1919,  ch. 
648.] 

Another  measure,  enacted  June  27,  amends  a  previous  act  by 
extending  to  20  days  the  period  of  grace  for  tenants  after  dispossess 
notice  has  been  given. — [Laws  of  New  York,  1919,  ch.  649.] 

The  State  reconstruction  commission  announced  that  the  total  of 
36,069  apartments  ought  to  be  under  construction  now,  in  order  to 
house  population  of  Greater  New  York  next  fall  and  winter. — 
[Times,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  July  7,  191  r  ] 

At  Rochester,  where  the  shortage  of  houses  is  most  acute,  a  colony 
is  to  be  developed  as  a  suburb  of  that  city.  It  will  be  built  on  45 
acres  of  ground  and  so  constructed  that  the  homes  will,  be  served 
from  a  central  building,  or  buildings,  which  will  contain  a  central 
heating  plant,  a  community  kitchen,  laundry,  etc. — [Housing  Better- 
ment, New  York,  N.  Y.,  June,  1919.] 

As  a  result  of  the  revival  of  iron  mining  at  Sterlington,  a  mining 
company  has  let  contracts  for  the  erection  of  100  dwellings  for 
employees.  The  buildings  will  be  substantial  one-family  houses, 
valued  at  $3,500  each. — [Housing  Betterment,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Feb- 
ruary, 1919.] 


230       UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

Housing  conditions  in  Troy  are  to  be  studied  by  members  of  the 
State  reconstruction  commission  on  an  invitation  extended  by  officials 
of  the  Troy  Chamber  of  Commerce.  The  chamber  of  commerce  de- 
sires the  reconstruction  commission  to  embody  in  its  recommendatigns 
for  possible  means  of  solving  the  housing  problems,  a  clear  descrip- 
tion of  the  situation  at  Troy,  Green  Island,  Watervliet.  and  Cohoes 
that  will  be  created  by  the  Ford  plant,  the  extension  of  the  Water- 
vliet Arsenal,  and  other  industrial  expansion  of  the  district. — [Record, 
Troy,  N.  Y.,  June  6,  1919.] 
Information  Service  for  Returned  Service  Men. 

The  local  branches  of  the  American  Red  Cross  are  cooperating 
with  other  organizations  in  establishing  contacts  with  service  men 
for  the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  adjustment  of  their  allotments, 
allowance  accounts,  compensation  and  claims,  and  the  reinstatement 
of  lapsed  or  canceled  insurance.  It  is  the  desire  of  the  Bureau  of 
War  Risk  Insurance  that  all  inquiries  of  this  nature  be  cleared 
through  the  home-service  sections  of  the  American  Red  Cross.  Up 
to  April  1, 1919,  the  American  Red  Cross  had  organized  in  New  York 
State  890  units  with  a  total  of  2,628  workers. — [Statement  prepared 
by  American  National  Red  Cross  for  U.  S.  Council  of  National 
Defense,  November,  1919.] 

Land  Settlement. 

The  State  conmiissioner  of  agriculture  has  appointed  a  committee 
to  act  in  an  advisory  capacity  to  returned  soldiers  who  desire  to  go  into 
farming  in  the  State.  The  agricultural  agents  of  all  the  large  rail- 
roads of  the  State  are  also  cooperating  in  the  matter.  The  depart- 
ment invites  correspondence  with  any  who  are  interested  in  getting 
information  relative  to  State  lands,  and  everything  possible  is 
to  be  done  to  assist  prospective  settlers  on  State  farms.  The  State 
department  of  agriculture,  through  the  bureau  of  farm  settlement, 
is  about  to  issue  a  bulletin.  Farms  for  sale  or  rent  in  New  York, 
which  will  be  mailed  free  upon  request.  This  bulletin  will  de- 
scribe over  1,000  farms  throughout  the  State  that  are  available 
for  purchase,  and  in  many  cases  can  be  rented. — [Mail,  New  York, 
N.  Y.,  Jan.  11,  1919.] 

The  State  woman's  land  army  has  determined  to  aid  the  returned 
soldiers  to  take  up  the  nonused  farm  land  of  the  State.  Many  parents 
in  all  sections  of  the  State  have  written  to  the  land-army  headquar- 
ters asking  that  farm  land  be  obtained  for  their  sons. — [Herald,  New 
York,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  13,  1919.] 

The  plan  adopted  by  the  Real  Estate  Exchange  of  Long  Island  for 
farm-land  settlement  is  before  the  State  reconstruction  commission 
An  offer  of  3,000  acres  of  farm  land  was  made,  and  pending  Federal 
action,  an  effort  will  be  made  to  interest  private  capital  in  helping  to 


NEW   YORK.  231 

provide  ready-to-live-on  farms  for  discharged  soldiers  and  industrial 
vvar  workers.— [World,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Apr.  13, 1919.] 

Two  bills  were  introduced  in  the  legislature  providing  for  coopera- 
tion with  the  Federal  Government  in  soldier  settlements.  Each  bill 
carried  an  appropriation  of  $250,000.  The  legislature  adjourned 
without  taking  action. — [Memorandum  from  Eeclamation  Service, 
U.  S.  Dept.  of  the  Interior  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  July 
1,  1919.] 
Motor  Transport  Service. 

A  rural  motor  transportation  company  has  been  established  to  serve 
all  points  on  Long  Island,  and  arrangements  have  been  made  by 
many  shippers  with  the  New  York  markets.  The  operating  company 
is  incorporated  under  the  name  of  the  liong  Island  Motor  Transporta- 
tion Co.,  with  offices  in  New  York  City.  There  will  be  a  receiving 
depot  in  New  York  City  and  a  large  central  depot  in  Long  Island 
City.— [Journal,  Providence,  R.  I.,  Apr.  27,  1919.] 
Port  Facilities. 

Study  of  the  needs  of  the  port  of  New  York,  in  orde'r  not  only  to 
maintain  its  supremacy  in  this  country  but  also  to  equip  it  with  con- 
veniences and  economies  that  will  enable  it  to  meet  on  even  terms  the 
foreign  ports  which  will  soon  enter  into  sharp  competition  for  the 
world's  trade,  is  now  engaging  the  New  York  and  New  Jersey  Port 
and  Harbor  Development  Commission. — [World,  New  York,  N.  Y., 
Feb.  23,  1919.] 

In  the  absence  of  a  comprehensive  plan  of  development,  the  New 
York  Board  of  Estimate  and  Apportionment  has  declined  to  ap- 
prove the  passage  by  the  legislature  of  a  proposed  amendment  to 
the  treaty  between  New  York  and  New  Jersey  for  the  creation  of  a 
joint  port  authority. — [Wall  Street  Journal,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Apr. 
4,  1919.] 

A  terminal  for  trans-Atlantic  liners  will  be  constructed  in  the  har- 
bor between  the  forts  and  Montauk  Point  on  Long  Island.  Between 
five  hundred  thousand  and  a  million  dollars  will  be  expended  in 
dredging  the  harbor. — [Federal  Trade  Information  Service,  New 
York,  N.  Y.,  July  31,  1919.] 

Preference  to  Returned  Service  Men  in  Public  Employment. 

The  superintendent  of  the  State  police  has  announced  that  only 
returning  soldiers,  sailors,  or  marines  who  have  seen  foreign  service 
under  the  American  flag  will  be  accepted  hereafter  as  members  of 
that  organization. — [Sun,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Mar.  8,  1919.] 

Two  acts  have  been  passed  by  the  legislature  affecting  the  rela- 
tion of  service  men  to  the  civil-service  laws.  The  first  of  these  acts 
provides  that  any  person  hitherto  employed  in  the  classified  civil 
service  of  the  State,  and  who  entered  the  military  or  naval  service 


232       UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

during  the  war,  may  be  reinstated  provided  such  person  is  not  dis- 
abled physically  or  mentally  to  perform  the  duties  of  such  position. 

The  second  act  provides  that  former  State  employees  returning 
to  the  State  service  from  the  military  or  naval  service  shall  be  pre- 
ferred for  any  appointment  in  the  department  where  such  person 
was  employed. — [Laws  of  New  York,  1919,  chs.  225,  241.] 
Price  Fixing. 

A  bill  has  been  introduced  in  the  assembly  which  is  designed  to 
extend  the  principle  of  prohibiting  price  fixing  by  combination  or 
agreement  between  employers'  associations  and  labor  organizations 
of  articles  of  trade,  commerce,  or  manufacture,  or  articles  used  in  the 
conduct  of  trade  or  commerce. — [Journal  of  Commerce,  New  York^ 
N.  Y.,  Apr.  14, 1919.] 
Profiteering. 

The  State  reconstruction  commission  has  appointed  a  housing 
committee  for  the  purpose  of  investigating  renting  conditions  in 
New  York  City,  with  a  view  of  curbing  landlord  profiteers.  A 
house-to-house  canvass  of  30  blocks  typical  of  various  classes  of  city 
dwellings  will  be  made  under  the  supervision  of  the  housing  experts. 
In  this  campaign  the  reconstruction  commission  will  be  aided  by  civic 
organizations,  including  practically  all  of  the  settlement  and  com- 
munity houses.  Women's  organizations  are  taking  a  particular  in- 
terest in  the  question  of  excessive  rents.  The  board  of  aldermen  has 
adopted  a  resolution  empowering  its  committee  on  general  welfare 
to  enter  the  campaign.  An  effort  will  be  made  by  a  delegation  from 
The  Bronx  to  bring  about  action  by  the  legislature  to  handle  the  mat- 
ter of  exorbitant  rent  rates. — [Glol)e,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Apr.  10, 
1919;  Morning  Telegraph,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Apr.  15,  1919.] 

The  board  of  aldermen  \ms  adopted  a  resolution  empowering  the 
committee  on  general  welfare  to  investigate  rent  profiteers  and  coop- 
erate with  the  mayor's  committee  to  that  end.  A  bill  has  been  in- 
troduced in  the  State  senate  limiting  rents  to  10  per  cent  of  assessed 
valuation.— [Wall  Street  Journal,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Apr.  17,  1919.] 

The  senate  has  passed  a  concurrent  resolution  appropriating 
$10,000  for  an  investigation  by  the  legislature  of  rent  conditions  in 
New  York  City.  The  committee  is  to  consist  of  five  senators  and 
five  assemblymen,  who  are  to  begin  their  work  immediately  and  go 
into  every  phase  of  housing,  tenements,  construction  of  new  build- 
ings, flats,  and  apartments.  They  are  to  have  power  to  summon 
landlords  and  tenants  to  give  testimony  as  to  the  conditions  caused 
by  the  unscrupulous  sublessees  and  agents  who  take  over  houses  and 
automatically  raise  rents.  The  committee  is  to  draft  remedial  legis- 
lation, to  be  submitted  to  the  next  legislature,  which  will  alleviate 
conditions.— [Telegram,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Apr.  18,  1919.] 


NEW   YORK.  233 

Three  committees  are  to  meet  on  April  21,  to  formulate  a  joint 
program  for  the  campaign  against  the  rent  profiteers  in  New  York 
City.  The  committees  are  the  mayor's  committee  on  profiteering, 
the  welfare  committee  of  the  board  of  aldermen,  and  the  housing 
committee  of  the  State  reconstruction  commission.  The  latter  has 
begun  a  housing  survey. — [Post,  Washington,  D.  C,  Apr.  21,  1919.J 

The  Workmen's  Consumers'  League  of  Brownsville  and  East  New 
York,  whose  membership  is  nearly  1,000,  is  holding  meetings  in  its 
headquarters  three  times  each  week,  at  which  members  report  un- 
w^arranted  raising  of  rents  and  discuss  ways  and  means  of  fighting 
rent  profiteers.— [World,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Apr.  21,  1919.] 

The  New  York  City  mayor's  committee  on  rent  profiteering  dur- 
ing the  last  week  settled  disputes  over  rent  increases  between  1,271 
rent-paying  heads  of  families  and  28  owners,  agents,  and  lessees  of 
apartment  houses.  All  the  settlements  were  the  result  of  concessions 
by  landlords.— [Sun,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  July  20,  1919.] 

Representatives  of  400  women's  civil  organizations,  with  an  aggre- 
gate membership  of  over  100,000,  met  in  New  York  City  to  formulate 
plans  for  the  war  on  high  prices.  Headquarters  have  been  estab- 
lished at  various  borough  halls  from  which  field  workers  are  directed 
to  report  all  cases  of  profiteering.  The  borough  heads  will  commu- 
nicate with  a  general  committee  who  in  turn  will  take  the  cases  up 
with  the  Federal  food  administration. — [Tribune,  New  York,  N.  Y., 
Sept.  11,  1919.] 

The  fair  price  committee  has  sent  out  37,100  post  cards  to  com- 
munity councils  and  cooperating  organizations  on  which  members 
may  check  up  the  prices  of  the  committee's  listed  commodities  in 
retail  grocery  stores  and  butcher  shops. —  [Sun,  New  York,  N.  Y., 
Sept.  18,  1919.] 
Public  Works. 

The  governor  has  issued  a  proclamation  calling  upon  the  cities  of 
the  State  to  speed  up  public  works,  for  which  money  is  available, 
as  a  means  of  aiding  soldiers  to  secure  work  and  of  preventing  un- 
employment.— [Knickerbocker  Press,  Albany,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  22,  1919.] 

The  State  architect  turned  over  the  plan  of  the  organization  of 
the  State  architect's  office  to  the  reconstruction  commission.  The 
commission  has  asked  every  department  in  the  State  to  turn  in  a  de- 
tailed report  of  how  their  machinery  works.  This  report  will  be  used 
by  the  governor  as  a  first  step  in  speeding  up  construction  work  on 
all  buildings  and  pro\'iding  work  for  returning  service  men. — • 
[Knickerbocker  Press,  Albany,  N.  Y.,  Mar.  5,  1919.] 

The  State  budget  for  the  next  fiscal  year  will  be  $89,610,000.  Of 
this  sum  $20,000,000  will  be  used  for  construction  work  to  take  care 
of  the  unemployed. — [Wall  Street  Journal,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Mar. 
13,  1919.] 


234       UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

A  measure  was  enacted  April  11  authorizing  construction  of  the 
proposed  vehicular  tunnel  under  the  Hudson  River,  and  appropri- 
ating $1,000,000  toward  the  total  of  $6,000,000  allowed  as  New  York's 
half  of  the  estimated  cost,  of  which  New  Jersey  is  to  pay  the  other 
half.—  [Laws  of  New  York,  1919,  ch.  178.] 

The  State  reconstruction  commission  reported  in  April  that  public 
work  was  in  progress  under  the  State  highway  commission,  the 
estimated  cost  of  completion  of  which  was  $10,202,000.  The  work 
not  started,  under  this  department,  amounted  to  $5,320,550;  and  the 
work  contemplated  to  $5,000,000.  The  work  under  the  State  engi- 
neers, such  as  construction  of  bridges,  dams,  and  various  other 
items  was;  in  progress,  $3,367,481;  not  started,  $859,269;  contem- 
plated, $6,404,500.  Work  under  the  State  conservation  commission, 
in  progress,  $107,163;  not  started,  $44,910;  contemplated,  $622,600. 
Under  the  State  architect,  who  supervises  the  construction  of  build- 
ings, additions,  and  repairs  thereto,  the  amounts  are  as  follows:  in 
progress,  $2,406,667;  not  started,  $4,143,854;  contemplated,  $9,309,- 
000. — [Pamphlet,  Report  of  Reconstruction  Commission  on  Public 
Improvements  in  Progress,  Not  Started,  and  Contemplated,  Execu- 
tive Chamber,  Albany,  N.  Y.,  Apr.  14,  1919.] 

Reports  received  in  January,  1919,  cover  267  public  building  and 
construction  projects  which  were  under  way  or  contemplated  in  the 
State,  aggregating  an  estimated  value  of  $119,200,000.  Of  this 
number  23  were  waterworks,  estimated  to  cost  $33,325,000;  58  were 
street  improvements,  estimated  to  cost  $10,295,000;  10  were  water- 
front improvements,  estimated  to  cost  $13,700,000;  and  67  were 
schools,  estimated  to  cost  $25,895,000. — [Statistics  compiled  by  Divi- 
sion of  Public  Works  and  Construction  Developments,  U.  S.  Dept. 
of  Labor,  Apr.  17,  1919.] 

The  State  reconstruction  commission  announced  that  an  addi- 
tional $3,000,000  has  become  available  for  State  public  improve- 
ments. It  was  said  that  the  additional  -amount  was  indicated  as 
available  at  the  conference  in  Albany  of  county  supervisors  and  the 
mayors  of  cities,  called  together  by  the  governor  to  consider  the 
report  of  the  reconstruction  commission  on  business  readjustment 
and  employment.  A  large  part  of  the  $3,000,000,  which  is  over  and 
above  the  $155,000,000,  at  hand  for  public  improvements  six  weeks 
ago,  will  be  used  for  State  highways,  and  about  40,000  men  will 
thus  be  employed.— [Times,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  May  25,  1919.] 

The  State  architect  has  announced  that  before  the  end  of  July 
bids  will  be  received  for  institutional  construction  work  for  which 
appropriations  were  made  available  to  the  amount  of  $5,000,000. 
Other  projects  are  under  consideration  which  may  increase  the  con- 
struction program  $1,500,000  by  August  1. — [Herald,  New  York, 
N.  Y.,  June  23,  1919.] 


KEW   YORK.  235 

Albany  has  an  elaborate  program  for  reconstruction  work,  contem- 
plating extensive  public  improvements.  The  plans  are  all  recom- 
mendations made  by  the  sectional  improvement  societies  several 
years  ago,  which  were  held  up  by  the  war.  Now  that  the  war  is  over 
and  the  Government  is  encouraging  reconstruction  work,  the  city  will 
go  on  with  this  work. —  [Times-Union,  Albany,  N.  Y.,  Mar.  28, 1919.] 

Following  up  a  plan  of  the  commissioner  of  finance  and  accounts, 
the  city  council  of  Buffalo  has  approved  approximately  $12,000,000 
worth  of  public  works,  which  will  afford  employment  to  a  great 
number  of  returning  service  men. — [Letter  from  deputy  commis- 
sioner of  Buffalo  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  24, 
1919.] 

The  board  of  aldermen  has  adopted  a  resolution  providing  an  ap- 
propriation of  $4,100,000  for  repaving  streets  in  the  various  boroughs 
of  New  York  City  during  the  3'ear  1919. —  [City-State-Nation,  New 
York,  N.  Y.,  Mar^  5,  1919.] 

The  municipal  administration  of  New  York  City  is  progressing  as 
rapidly  as  possible  all  necessary  public  improvements  and  has  author- 
ized the  expenditure  of  $10,000,000  for  the  erection  of  public  schools, 
and  will  authorize  the  expenditure  of  an  additional  $10,000,000  as 
soon  as  required.  It  has  also  authorized  the  expenditure  of  $5,000,- 
000  for  dock  and  water-front  improvements.  It  will  also  authorize 
an  additional  $5,000,000  as  soon  as  it  can  be  used.  Tha  city  will 
authorize  as  rapidly  as  necessary  a  sum  of  money  amounting  ap- 
proximately to  $50,000,000  to  complete  the  subway  system.  For  local 
improvements,  such  as  sewers,  new  streets,  and  repaving  of  all  the 
present  streets,  $14,000,000  has  been  made  available.  For  miscel- 
laneous improvements  provided  for  during  the  year  1919  an  amount 
close  to  $5,000,000  has  been  authorized.  The  west-side  improvement 
will  be  taken  up  in  the  near  future,  and  it  is  estimated  that  the  cost 
of  this  improvement  to  the  city  will  be  between  $35,000,000  and  $40,- 
000,000.  A  contract  has  been  let  for  the  extension  of  the  water  sys- 
tem, amounting  to  about  $13,000,000,  the  work, on  which  will  be 
started  as  soon  as  possible.  Every  action  necessary  and  possible  will 
be  taken  to  stimulate  the  various  lines  of  industry  and  the  business 
interests  of  the  city  to  provide  employment  to  returning  soldiers  and 
others  seeking  employment. — [Tribune,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Mar.  5, 
1919.] 

The  three-year  improvement  program  for  New  York  City  advanced 
by  the  comptroller  calls  for  the  expenditure  of  $255,527,834  for  public 
works,  of  which  $127,345,153  would  be  income-producing  and  $128,- 
182,681  would  be  nonproductive.  Productive  improvements  would 
include  $59,369,300  subway  construction,  $20,413,448  docks,  $2,875,000 
public  markets,  and  $44,687,405  terminal  improvements. — [Wall 
Street  Journal,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Mar.  8, 1919.] 


234       UNITED  STATES  KEADJTJSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTIOIT. 

A  measure  was  enacted  April  11  authorizing  construction  of  the 
proposed  vehicular  tunnel  under  the  Hudson  Kiver,  and  appropri- 
ating $1,000,000  toward  the  total  of  $6,000,000  allowed  as  New  York's 
half  of  the  estimated  cost,  of  which  New  Jersey  is  to  pay  the  other 
half.—  [Laws  of  New  York,  1919,  ch.  178.] 

The  State  reconstruction  conunission  reported  in  April  that  public 
work  was  in  progress  under  the  State  highway  commission,  the 
estimated  cost  of  completion  of  which  was  $10,202,000.  The  work 
not  started,  under  this  department,  amounted  to  $5,320,550;  and  the 
work  contemplated  to  $5,000,000.  The  work  under  the  State  engi- 
neers, such  as  construction  of  bridges,  dams,  and  various  other 
items  was;  in  progress,  $3,367,481;  not  started,  $859,269;  contem- 
plated, $6,404,500.  Work  under  the  State  conservation  commission, 
in  progress,  $107,163;  not  started,  $44,910;  contemplated,  $622,600. 
Under  the  State  architect,  who  supervises  the  construction  of  build- 
ings, additions,  and  repairs  thereto,  the  amounts  are  as  follows:  in 
progress,  $2,406,667;  not  started,  $4,143,854;  contemplated,  $9,309,- 
000. — [Pamphlet,  Report  of  Reconstruction  Commission  on  Public 
Improvements  in  Progress,  Not  Started,  and  Contemplated,  Execu- 
tive Chamber,  Albany,  N.  Y.,  Apr.  14,  1919.] 

Reports  received  in  January,  1919,  cover  267  public  building  and 
construction  projects  which  were  under  way  or  contemplated  in  the 
State,  aggregating  an  estimated  value  of  $119,200,000.  Of  this 
number  23  were  waterworks,  estimated  to  cost  $33,325,000;  58  were 
street  improvements,  estimated  to  cost  $10,295,000;  10  were  water- 
front improvements,  estimated  to  cost  $13,700,000;  and  67  were 
schools,  estimated  to  cost  $25,895,000. — [Statistics  compiled  by  Divi- 
sion of  Public  Works  and  Construction  Developments,  U.  S.  Dept. 
of  Labor,  Apr.  17,  1919.] 

The  State  reconstruction  commission  announced  that  an  addi- 
tional $3,000,000  has  become  available  for  State  public  improve- 
ments. It  was  said  that  the  additional  -amount  was  indicated  as 
available  at  the  conference  in  Albany  of  county  supervisors  and  the 
mayors  of  cities,  called  together  by  the  governor  to  consider  the 
report  of  the  reconstruction  commission  on  business  readjustment 
and  employment.  A  large  part  of  the  $3,000,000,  which  is  over  and 
above  the  $155,000,000,  at  hand  for  public  improvements  six  weeks 
ago,  will  be  used  for  State  highways,  and  about  40,000  men  will 
thus  be  employed.— [Times,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  May  25,  1919.] 

The  State  architect  has  announced  that  before  the  end  of  July 
bids  will  be  received  for  institutional  construction  work  for  which 
appropriations  were  made  available  to  the  amount  of  $5,000,000. 
Other  projects  are  under  consideration  which  may  increase  the  con- 
struction program  $1,500,000  by  August  1. — [Herald,  New  York, 
N.  Y.,  June  23,  1919.] 


NEW   YORK.  235 

Albany  has  an  elaborate  program  for  reconstruction  work,  contem- 
plating extensive  public  improvements.  The  plans  are  all  recom- 
mendations made  by  the  sectional  improvement  societies  several 
years  ago,  which  were  held  up  by  the  war.  Now  that  the  war  is  over 
and  the  Government  is  encouraging  reconstruction  work,  the  city  will 
go  on  with  this  work. —  [Times-Union,  Albany,  N.  Y.,  Mar.  28, 1919.] 

Following  up  a  plan  of  the  commissioner  of  finance  and  accounts, 
the  city  council  of  Buffalo  has  approved  approximately  $12,000,000 
worth  of  public  works,  which  will  afford  employment  to  a  great 
number  of  returning  service  men. — [Letter  from  deputy  commis- 
sioner of  Buffalo  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  24, 
1919.] 

The  board  of  aldermen  has  adopted  a  resolution  providing  an  ap- 
propriation of  $4,100,000  for  repaving  streets  in  the  various  boroughs 
of  New  York  City  during  the  3'ear  1919. —  [City-State-Nation,  New 
York,  N.  Y.,  Mar.  5,  1919.] 

The  municipal  administration  of  New  York  City  is  progressing  as 
rapidly  as  possible  all  necessary  public  improvements  and  has  author- 
ized the  expenditure  of  $10,000,000  for  the  erection  of  public  schools, 
and  will  authorize  the  expenditure  of  an  additional  $10,000,000  as 
soon  as  required.  It  has  also  authorized  the  expenditure  of  $5,000,- 
000  for  dock  and  water-front  improvements.  It  will  also  authorize 
an  additional  $5,000,000  as  soon  as  it  can  be  used.  Tha  city  will 
authorize  as  rapidly  as  necessary  a  sum  of  money  amounting  ap- 
proximately to  $50,000,000  to  complete  the  subway  system.  For  local 
improvements,  such  as  sewers,  new  streets,  and  repaving  of  all  the 
present  streets,  $14,000,000  has  been  made  available.  For  miscel- 
laneous improvements  provided  for  during  the  year  1919  an  amount 
close  to  $5,000,000  has  been  authorized.  The  west-side  improvement 
will  be  taken  up  in  the  near  future,  and  it  is  estimated  that  the  cost 
of  this  improvement  to  the  city  will  be  between  $35,000,000  and  $40,- 
000,000.  A  contract  has  been  let  for  the  extension  of  the  water  sys- 
tem, amounting  to  about  $13,000,000,  the  work, on  which  will  be 
started  as  soon  as  possible.  Every  action  necessary  and  possible  will 
be  taken  to  stimulate  the  various  lines  of  industry  and  the  business 
interests  of  the  city  to  provide  employment  to  returning  soldiers  and 
others  seeking  employment. — [Tribune,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Mar.  5, 
1919.] 

The  three-year  improvement  program  for  New  York  City  advanced 
by  the  comptroller  calls  for  the  expenditure  of  $255,527,834  for  public 
works,  of  which  $127,345,153  would  be  income-producing  and  $128,- 
182,681  would  be  nonproductive.  Productive  improvements  would 
include  $59,369,300  subway  construction,  $20,413,448  docks,  $2,875,000 
public  markets,  and  $44,687,405  terminal  improvements. — [Wall 
Street  Journal,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Mar.  8, 1919.] 


236        UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

The  New  York  City  board  of  aldermen  has  adopted  the  report  of 
the  committee  on  finance  and  budget  relating  to  the  requirements  for 
1919,  1920,  and  1921,  submitted  by  the  various  heads  of  departments, 
boards,  and  commissions,  for  permanent  public  improvements.  It 
calls  for  an  outlay  during  the  next  three  years  of  $128,182,681.  The 
requirements  for  the  next  three  years  for  rapid  transit,  docks,  public 
markets,  and  permanent  improvements  amount  to  an  additional  ag- 
gregate of  $127,345,153.— [City-State-Nation,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Apr. 
9, 1919.] 

At  a  meeting  of  the  State  reconstruction  commission  in  Brooklyn, 
the  commissioner  of  public  works  said  that  within  three  years  his 
department  would  expend  $26,000,000  in  public  improvements.  He 
said  that  20,000  men  would  be  employed  within  the  next  year. 
Among  the  public  improvements  he  mentioned  was  a  new  municipal 
building  for  Brooklyn  and  a  boardwalk  for  Coney  Island.  The 
superintendent  of  sewers  said  that  his  department  expected  to  expend 
$1,379,000  next  year  and  would  employ  2,500  people. — [Times,  New 
York,  N.  Y.,  May  14,  1919.] 

In  compliance  with  the  request  of  the  Federal  Government  that 
municipal  improvement  be  started  to  give  work  to  returned  soldiers 
and  others,  the  city  council  of  Niagara  Falls  recently  adopted  a 
resolution  calling  for  the  expenditure  of  $700,000  to  lay  sewers, 
water  mains,  and  repave  streets  throughout  the  city.  The  city  man- 
ager was  authorized  to  advertise  for  bids  and  to  arrange  for  the 
sale  of  city  bonds  to  cover  the  expense. — [Express,  Buffalo,  N.  Y., 
Apr.  8,  1919.] 

Eochester's  program  of  municipal  improvement  to  aid  in  the 
general  reconstruction  movement  will  be  advanced  by  the  selling 
of  $100,000  worth  of  municipal  construction  notes.  This  lot  will 
cover  the  construction  of  bathhouses  and  firehouses,  and  is  part  of 
a  total  of  $1,000,000  to  be  sold,  which  includes  $700,000  for  current 
expenses  and  $200,000  for  school  constructior^. — [Post  Express,  Roch- 
ester, N.  Y.,  Mar.  14,  1919.] 
Reconstruction  Association. 

For  the  purpose  of  getting  Buffalo  back  to  a  normal  peace-time 
basis,  after  having  diverted  more  than  one-third  of  its  industrial 
capacity  to  war  production,  representatives  of  all  agencies  interested 
in  tlie  general  welfare  of  the  community  have  organized  the  Buffalo 
Reconstruction  Association.  It  will  be  the  object  of  the  reconstruc- 
tion association  to  stimulate  the  construction  trades,  and  enlist  for 
them  the  necessary  financial  support,  and  also  to  encourage  the 
merchant  and  the  manufacturer  to  accustomed  peace  activity.  The 
welfare  of  Buffalo  men  who  have  been  in  service  is  considered  as  of 
first  importance  by  the  association,  and  every  effort  will  be  made 


NEW  YORK.  237 

to  secure  employment  for  these  men  upon  their  discharge. — [News, 
Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  Mar.  21,  1919.] 
Reconstruction  Commission. 

The  reconstruction  commission  appointed  by  the  governor  of  the 
State  has  a  personnel  of  36  members,  5  of  whom  are  women,  repre- 
senting practically  every  business  interest  in  the  community,  many 
of  whom  have  held  important  positions  in  the  affairs  of  state. — 
[Journal  of  Commerce,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  23,  1919.] 

The  governor  has  asked  the  legislature  to  appropriate  $75,000  for 
the  reconstruction  commission's  work.  Some  of  the  matters  the  gov- 
ernor has  asked  the  commission  to  consider  are:  Whether  it  will 
be  necessary  for  the  youth  of  the  State  to  undergo  militar^^  training 
under  State  supervision  in  addition  to  universal  military  training 
under  proposed  Federal  legislation ;  an  exhaustive  study  of  housing 
conditions,  recommending  either  legislative  or  executive  action  to 
obtain  information  on  the  taxation  problem,  and  to  endeavor  to 
solve  it;  a  study  of  food  problems  with  a  view  to  capitalizing,  for 
permanent  use,  lessons  in  increased  production  learned  through  the 
war,  so'  that  prices'  may  be  reduced ;  public  health ;  labor  problems ; 
unemployment;  and  resumption  of  work  on  public  buildings  to  re- 
lieve unemployment — [Christian  Science  Monitor,  Boston,  Mass., 
Jan.  23,  1919.] 

The  chairman  of  the  reconstruction  commission  announces  that  the 
commission  has  been  organized  into  the  following  12  subcommittees : 
Retrenchment,  unemployment,  industrial  problems,  housing,  demo- 
bilization, education,  food  production  and  distribution,  resettlement 
of  land,  inquiry  into  war-emergency  measures,  public  health,  busi- 
ness readjustment,  and  drafting  of  legislation.  The  method  of  these 
committees  will  be  to  draw  together  immediately  an  advisory  con- 
ference group  composed  of  organizations  and  individuals  who  are 
interested  in  the  subject  with  which  the  committee  is  to  deal.  These 
conference  bodies  will  be  asked  to  meet  the  committee  and  to  take 
up  the  formulation  of  programs  and  plans. — [Post,  New  York,  N.  Y., 
Jan.  2T,  1919.] 

A  bill  will  be  introduced  authorizing  the  establishment  of  the 
State  reconstruction  commission  recently  named  by  the  governor. 
Under  the  terms  of  the  bill  the  commission  will  be  authorized  to  con- 
duct hearings,  issue  summonses,  and  in  general  take  the  place  of 
the  now  defunct  State  council  of  defense,  which  was  organized  for 
war  work.  The  commission  is  not  a  partisan  body,  but  comprises 
members  of  all  political  parties.  The  bill  introduced  carries  an 
appropriation  of  $60,000.  This  amount  will  be  sought  from  the 
$88,000  left  of  $1,000,000  appropriation  for  the  use  of  tho  State 
council  of  defense.— -[Argus,  Albany,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  5,  1919.] 


238        UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

The  reconstruction  commission  of  the  State  has  heard  the  views 
of  women  of  the  labor  council  on  pending  legislation.  There  are  a 
number  of  bills  in  the  legislature  affecting  the  working  conditions 
of  women,  recommended  by  the  governor.  The  commission  is  to  hear 
the  director  of  the  housing  program  for  the  United  States  Emergency 
Fleet  Corporation  as  to  what  is  to  be  done  for  the  laboring  classes, 
and  a  member  of  the  housing  committee  of  the  health  department 
on  housing  conditions. — [Times,  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  8,  1919.] 

At  the  State  conference  of  chambers  of  commerce  and  commercinl 
organizations  of  the  State  an  address  by  the  chairman  of  the  State 
reconstruction  commission  was  read,  outlining  the  work  of  the  com- 
mission, and  referring  to  the  failure  on  the  part  of  the  legislature  to 
appropriate  the  requested  $60,000  for  the  expenses  of  the  commis- 
sion, declaring  that  in  spite  of  the  adverse  action  of  the  senate  and 
assembly,  the  commission  would  go  ahead  with  its  work,  raising  the 
necessary  money  among  members,  friends,  and  supporters. — [Tele- 
graph, New  York,  N.  Y.,  Mar.  2, 1919.] 

The  members  of  the  State  reconstruction  commission  are  unpaid. 
Many  of  its  staff  are  also  unpaid  and  much  of  the  service  has  been 
voluntary.  State  and  city  departments  are  helping  the  commis- 
sion.—[Herald,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Mar.  3, 1919.] 

The  State  reconstruction  commission  has  appointed  an  advisory  en- 
gineering commission  to  advise  and  confer  with  it.  The  body  is  com- 
posed of  five  prominent  engineers,  selected  by  the  engineering  council, 
and  is  at  present  interested  in  the  following  public  works:  The 
vehicular  tunnel,  water-power  developments,  port  and  harbor  devel- 
opments, garbage,  sewerage,  and  highway  construction. — [Electrical 
World,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Mar.  15,  1919.] 

The  following  recommendations  were  forwarded  to  the  governor 
by  the  reconstruction  commission :  Full  cooperation  with  the  United 
States  Employment  Service;  strengthening  and  enlarging  of  the 
State  system  of  employment  agencies  by  appropriating  a  $50,000 
emergency  fund  to  the  industrial  commission;  encouraging  municipal 
support  for  employment  agencies;  calling  upon  volunteer  agencies, 
both  those  created  for  war  purposes  and  otherwise,  for  resumption 
of  functioning;  urging  labor  to  lend  its  cooperation  to  the  coordi- 
nating plan  suggested;  the  summoning  by  the  governor  of  a  con- 
ference of  mayors  of  cities,  representatives  of  labor,  agricultural 
and  commercial  interests,  and  representatives  of  all  agencies.  Fed- 
eral, State,  municipal,  and  volunteer,  for  the  purpose  of  stimulating 
cooperation  and  bringing  about  a  complete  coordination  with  the 
State  and  Federal  systems. — [Journal  of  Commerce,  New  York, 
N.  Y.,  Mar.  19,  1919.] 

The  reconstruction  commission  of  the  State  has  asked  for  an 
expression  of  views  and  suggestions  from  the  business  men  of  Queens 


NEW   YORK.  239 

Borough  on  the  following  subjects  which  are  now  being  studied: 
Housing ;  unemployment ;  taxation  and  retrenchment ;  business  read- 
justment; industrial  problems;  legislation;  strikes,  etc.;  education, 
including  Americanization  and  military  training ;  food  distribution ; 
and  public  health.  At  a  public  hearing  the  Queens  Borough  Cham- 
ber of  Commerce  will  discuss  with  the  reconstruction  commission 
these  postwar  problems. — [Eagle,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  Mar.  27,  1919.] 

The  committee  on  retrenchment  of  the  State  reconstruction  com- 
mission has  submitted  a  report  to  the  go^  ernor  on  retrenchment  and 
reorganization  in  the  State  government.  The  report  discusses  in 
detail  the  present  organization  of  the  State  government  and  con- 
tains recommendations  for  the  consolidation  of  numerous  State 
departments  and  the  introduction  of  an  executive  budget  system.  It 
also  makes  recommendations  concerning  State  salaries  and  pen- 
sions.— [Pamphlet,  Report  of  Reconstruction  Commission  on  Re- 
trenchment and  Reorganization  in  the  State  Government,  Executive 
Chamber,  Albany,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  10,  1919.] 
Reconstruction  Committee. 

Fifty  members  of  the  legislature  have  been  appointed  to  investigate 
subjects  on  which  reports  are  to  be  made  forming  the  basis  for  reme- 
dial legislation  to  be  introduced  next  winter.  These  activities  will 
have  for  their  purpose :  1.  The  combating  of  Bolshevik  agitators  and 
propaganda,  the  committee  to  visit  all  communities  in  which  there  is 
a  large  foreign  element.  2.  The  suppression  of  rent  profiteering,  the 
betterment  of  housing  conditions,  and  increasing  of  the  ice  supply 
and  reduction  of  its  cost,  to  endeavor  to  correct  conditions  in  New 
York  City  and  get  after  profiteering  landlords.  3.  The  curtailment 
of  State  and  municipal  expense,  an  inquiry  to  be  made  by  the  joint  tax 
committee  of  both  houses,  which  recommended  the  personal  income- 
tax  law  and  which  is  to  conduct  hearings  in  all  cities.  4.  The  mapping 
out  of  State  and  county  highways  and  rural  post  roads  which  are  to 
be  built  under  the  $20,000,000  bonding  act.  5.  The  further  inquiry 
into  laws  relating  to  the  civil  practice  with  a  view  to  simplifying  the 
civil  code.  This  committee  reported  to  the  last  legislature  nearly 
50  bills,  some  of  which  will  form  the  basis  for  a  code. — [World,  New 
York,  N.  Y.,  Apr.  25, 1919.] 
Reconstruction  Problems. 

In  his  message  of  January  1  the  governor  outlined  what  he  con- 
sidered the  State's  reconstruction  problems,  dividing  them  into  those 
of  a  temporary  nature,  which  include  provision  of  employment  for 
soldiers  and  relief  for  dependent  families  and  disabled  service  men; 
and  the  permanent  problems,  such  as  just  taxation,  production  and 
distribution  of  necessities,  health  and  efficiency,  readjustment  of 
industrial  relations,  etc.     He  proposed   the  creation   of   a   recon- 


240       UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

struction  commission  to  assist  in  the  solution  of  these  problems. — 
[Governor's  Message,  Leg.  Doc.  No.  3,  Jan.  1,  1919.] 

At  the  first  public  hearing  in  Kochester  of  the  State  reconstruc- 
tion commission  the  employment  situation  was  discussed.  The  su- 
perintendent of  city  planning  told  of  what  the  city  had  done  to  pro- 
vide work  for  returned  men,  mentioning  particularly  the  large  ap- 
propriations that  have  been  made  for  the  improvement  of  municipal 
properties.  Definite  propaganda  to  stimulate  buying  in  order  that 
manufactures  might  be  given  an  impetus  was  advocated.  The  sub- 
jects of  industrial  unrest,  Americanization,  and  education  were  also 
discussed. — [Democrat  and  Chronicle,  Eochester,  N.  Y.,  Mar.  9, 
1919.] 

Keadjustment  problems  of  industry  were  discussed  by  the  asso- 
ciated manufactureres  and  merchants  of  the  State  at  the  opening 
session  of  their  annual  meeting  in  Syracuse.  More^han  500  repre- 
sentatives of  industry  and  commerce  were  present.  The  chairman  of 
the  State  reconstruction  commission  Avas  present  and  discussed  the 
readjustment  of  industrial  relations. — [Statesman,  Yonkers,  N.  Y., 
Mar.  27,  1919.] 
Reconstruction  Program, 

A  reconstruction  program  aimed  to  provide  employment  for  all 
available  labor  in  Albany  and  to  see  that  every  returning  soldier  and 
sailor  is  found  a  job,  was  set  forth  at  a  meeting  of  the  board  of 
directors  of  the  Albany  Chamber  of  Commerce.  The  report  recom- 
mends immediate  work  on  State,  county,  and  municipal  jc^bs;  locating 
of  returning  soldiers  and  workers  on  farms;  promoting  the  produc- 
tion of  crops  needed  most  locally ;  raising  cattle  needed  locally ;  and 
promoting  the  best  methods  of  distribution  and  marketing  of  farm 
products,  including  motor-truck  routes  and  the  development  and  im- 
provement of  the  city  market.  The  report  of  the  industrial  com- 
mittee of  the  chamber  of  commerce  was  also  included  in  the  report. 
Americanization,  educational  methods,  commercial  and  labor  arbitra- 
tion, housing,  fire  prevention,  garbage  disposal,  trade  acceptances, 
and  various  other  municipal  questions  were  recommended  to  be  as- 
signed to  committees  for  discussion  and  development.  A  resolution 
to  appoint  a  committee  to  take  steps  immediately  to  induce  the  Fed- 
eral Government  to  permit  the  Ford  Co.  to  utilize  the  water  power  of 
the  Federal  dam  at  Troy  for  the  proposed  tractor  plant  at  Green 
Island,  was  unanimously  passed  by  the  board. — [Knickerbocker  Press, 
Albany,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  28, 1918.] 

Rehabilitation  of  Disabled  Service  Men. 

The  College  of  the  City  of  New  York,  in  cooperation  with  the 
board  of  education  and  the  boai'd  of  health,  is  now  maintaining 
five  clinics  in  the  various  boroughs  for  the  correction  of  speech 


NEW  YORK.  241 

defects.    These  clinics  are  maintained  as  public  institutions  to  give 
free  treatment  to  anyone  suffering  with  a  speech  defect,  and  co- 
operate with  the  Federal  Government  in  curing  soldiers  suffering 
from  shell  shock.— [Eagle,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  26,  1919] 
Research  and  Consultation  Service. 

At  a  public  hearing  of  the  State  reconstruction  commission,  it  was 
loroposed  that  a  permanent  organization  of  research  and  consulta- 
tion for  the  guidance  and  advice  of  legislators  be  established.  It 
was  stated  that  this  machinery,  capable  of  dealing  with  new  condi- 
tions, should  be  the  first  step  in  reconstruction.  The  duties  of  such 
an  agency,  as  explained,  would  be  threefold:  First,  the  collection 
and  adequate  presentation  of  information;  second,  conferences  with 
various  interests  concerned  in  legislation ;  and  third,  the  formulation 
of  policies  and  their  translation  into  concrete  measures  for  the 
consideration  of  oflicials.  It  was  thought  that  the  organization 
should  depend  on  committees,  in  which  trade-unions,  chambers  of 
commerce,  boards  of  trade,  and  other  civic  and  industrial  associa- 
tions should  be  represented. — [Sun,  Xew  York,  N.  Y.,  Apr.  12. 1919.] 

School  Gardens. 

School  gardens  are  being  conducted  in  151  cities  and  towns,  the 
total  present  enrollment  in  the  State  being  138,180.  In  Troy  during 
the  fiscal  year  ending  June  30,  1919,  when  3,000  children  were  en- 
rolled, the  value  of  the  school-garden  products  amounted  to  $16,000 
or  $5.33  per  capita. —  [Prepared  from  material  furnished  by  U.  S. 
School  Garden  Army  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Nov. 
1,1919.] 

stimulation  of  Food  Production. 

The  bureau  of  production  and  the  bureau  of  farm  employment  of 
the  State  food  commission  will  be  maintained  until  November  1,  the 
former  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  State  council  of  farms  and  mar- 
kets and  the  latter  under  direction  of  the  State  industrial  commis- 
sion.—[Sun,  Norwich,  N.  Y.,  Mar.  13,  1919.] 
SuflFrage  for  Returned  Service  Men. 

A  bill  has  been  enacted  providing  for  the  special  enrollment  of 
any  qualified  voter  of  the  State  who  by  reason  of  military  or  naval 
service  was  absent  from  his  or  her  election  district  at  the  time  desig- 
nated for  the  enrollment  of  party  voters  in  any  year.  According  to 
the  terms  of  the  act  such  persons  may  execute  a  form  provided  for 
the  purpose  by  the  custodian  of  primary  records,  who  will  enroll 
them  with  their  choice  in  the  original  enrollment  bodies  for  the 
proper  election  district. —  [Laws  of  New  York,  1919,  chs.  504,  532.] 
Tax  Exemption  for  Service  Men, 

Under  an  act,  approved  March  13,  it  is  provided  that  veterans  of 
the  World  War  may  obtain  free  of  charge  licenses  to  hawk,  peddle, 
134286*'— 20 16 


242       UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  HECONSTRUCTION. 


\ 


vend,  and  sell  by  auction  their  own  goods,  wares,  or  merchandise  or 
solicit  trade  within  the  State.  These  licenses  will  be  issued  by  county 
clerks  upon  presentation  of  certificates  of  honorable  discharge. — 
[Laws  of  New  York,  1919,  ch.  42.] 

The  commissioner  of  the  department  of  finance  and  accounts  has 
pointed  out  to  the  governor  what  appears  to  be  unjust  discrimination 
against  soldiers  who  did  not  happen  to  serve  overseas  in  the  law  pro- 
viding that  licenses  to  peddle,  auction,  or  solicit  trade  shall  be 
granted  without  charge  to  discharged  soldiers,  sailors,  or  marines 
who  served  in  the  Civil  War,  the  Spanish- American  War,  or  "  beyond 
the  sea."  It  is  suggested  that  the  law  be  changed  to  include  all  sol- 
diers, whether  they  served  overseas  or  not. — [Courier,  Buffalo,  N.  Y., 
Mar.  27,  1919.] 
Vocational  Reeducation  of  Disabled  Service  Men. 

The  State  conference  on  the  reeducation  of  crippled  soldiers,  held 
in  Albany  on  January  24,  decided  that  plans  should  be  formulated 
for  the  professional  and  industrial  education  of  the  12,000  men  in 
the  State  who  were  wounded  during  the  war.  The  conference  was 
in  charge  of  the  director  of  the  division  of  agriculture  and  industrial 
training,  and  was  attended  by  representatives  of  45  colleges  and  uni- 
versities. Under  a  new  system,  outlined  at  the  conference,  soldiers 
wounded  so  they  can  not  return  to  their  former  employment  are  to 
be  given  courses.  The  State  will  be  divided  into  13  districts,  each 
of  which  will  have  a  competent  adviser  to  confer  with  the  soldiers  in 
relation  to  the  courses  to  be  offered.  Colleges  and  technical  schools 
will  include  special  courses  in  their  curriculums  especially  designed 
to  train  the  men. — [Knickerbocker  Press,  Albany,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  25, 
1919.] 

In  order  to  refit  for  civilian  life  disabled  soldiers  who  have  had 
some  musical  training  a  campaign  for  funds  has  been  inaugurated  by 
the  Brooklyn  Musical  School  Settlement,  which  plans  to  conduct  the 
work  on  a  large  scale.  No  soldier  will  be  admitted  to  the  school  who 
has  not  previously  played  some  instrument,  as  elementary  musical 
instruction  is  not  contemplated  as  part  of  the  course.  It  is  planned, 
however,  to  teach  a  man  to  play  a  new  instrument  if  his  injuries  pre- 
vent him  from  playing  the  one  already  mastered. — [Times,  Washing- 
ton, D.  C,  Feb.  20,  1919.] 

The  Brooklyn  Public  Library  is  pointing  out  to  discharged  soldiers 
the  useful  part  it  can  play  in  providing  material  guidance  in  voca- 
tional rehabilitation.  In  nearly  every  art,  trade,  profession,  and 
handicraft,  useful  manuals,  both  elementary  and  advanced,  have  been 
published  for  purposes  of  self -instruction,  and  the  Brooklyn  Public 
Library  is  prepared  to  furnish  copies  of  such  manuals  in  generous 
quantities.    A  special  list  of  about  four  hundred  of  these  books  has 


NEW  YORK.  243 

been  compiled  and  is  available  at  the  branches  for  free  distribution. — 
[Citizen,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  26,  1919.] 

Establishment  of  a  trade  school  and  workshop  for  crippled  soldiers, 
near  the  military  hospital  at  Mineola,  is  being  considered  by  the 
Knights  of  Columbus.  Courses  and  work  along  various  lines  of 
vocational  training  are  to  be  supplied. — [Xorth  American,  Philadel- 
phia, Pa.,  Mar.  14,  1919.] 

The  board  of  education  of  Xew  York  City  has  organized  a  divi- 
sion of  advisement  and  training,  which  is  to  cooperate  with  the 
Rehabilitation  Division  of  the  Federal  Board  of  Vocational  Educa- 
tion. This  new  division  will  advise  and  train  soldiers  and  sailors 
who  have  been  discharged  from  active  service  because  of  physical  dis- 
ability. It  is  endeavoring  to  get  in  touch  with  every  disabled  man 
residing  in  Greater  Xew  York. — [Eagle,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  Mar.  5, 
1919.] 

Disseminating  information  in  regard  to  opportunities  for  voca- 
tional training  became  part  of  the  work  of  the  War  Camp  Com- 
munity Service  in  New  York  City.  Over  300  communications  were 
sent  by  the  New  York  branch  to  War  Camp  Community  Service 
representatives  throughout  the  country'  asking  them  to  secure  all 
information  possible  regarding  opportunities  for  industrial  training, 
together  with  a  list  of  all  institutions  giving  such  courses.  To  assist 
further,  the  War  Camp  Conuuunity  Service  instituted  a  series  of 
weekly  lectures  for  soldiers  on  vocational  oppoi-t unities,  at  one  of  the 
officers'  clubs  in  New  York  City.  The  lecturers  were  the  successful 
men  in  various  fields  of  industry,  commerce,  and  the  professions. — 
[Report  of  War  Camp  Community  Service  for  U-  S.  Council  of 
National  Defense,  August,  1919.] 

In  accordance  with  section  2  of  the  Federal  vocational  rehabili- 
tation act  of  June  27,  1918,  as  amended  July  11,  1919,  arrangements 
had  been  made  up  to  October  25,  1919,  by  the  Federal  Board  for 
Vocational  Education  with  122  educational  institutions  in  the  State 
for  the  reeducation  of  service  men  to  overcome  the  handicap  of  dis- 
abilities incurred  in  the  service.  A  total  of  1,642  such  men  have  been 
sent  to  these  institutions  for  training.  Arrangements  have  also  been 
made  by  this  board  with  71  industrial  establishments  in  the  State 
whereby  the  latter  have  undertaken  to  train  a  total  of  91  disabled 
men. — [Compiled  from  statement  prepared  by  Rehabilitation  Divi- 
sion, Federal  Board  for  Vocational  Education.] 

Water  Resources. 

A  comprehensive  program  to  bring  about  development  of  unused 
water  power  in  the  State  was  introduced  in  the  legislature.  The 
proposals  would  leave  to  a  State  water-storage  commission,  consisting 
of  the  State  engineer,  State  conservation  commissioner,  and  the  State 


244        UNITED  STATES  FxEADJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

attorney  general,  to  determine  Avlietlier  the  State  should  de^'elop  its 
great  available  water  power  on  the  Niagara  and  St.  Lawrence  Rivers 
and  distribute  the  power  itself,  or  whether  this  poAver  should  be  leased 
at  the  sites.  Tw  o  of  the  measures  provide  for  constitutional  amend- 
ments declaring  power  a  public  use,  and  thereby  permitting  the 
taking  of  private  lands  for  power  purposes,  flooding  of  State  lands  in 
creating  reservoirs  for  power  development  purposes,  and  construc- 
tion of  power  transmission  lines  on  State  lands. — [Sun,  New  York, 
N.  Y.,  Mar.  25,  1919.] 

NORTH   CAROLINA. 

Assistance  for  Service  Men  and  Their  Families. 

The  mayors  of  many  cities  in  the  State  have  formed  connnittees  for 
assisting  the  men  in  various  ways.  The  American  Red  Cross, 
through  its  home-service  sections,  is  very  materially  helping  the  fam- 
ilies of  soldiers  who  are  in  need.  Legal  advisor}^  committees  in  each 
county  offer  their  services  free  in  furnishing  legal  aid. — [Letter  from 
State  council  of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar. 
28,  1919.] 
"  Back-to-School  "  Drive. 

The  "  Back-to-school  "  drive  will  be  made  a  part  of  the  work  of 
school  clubs  now  being  organized  under  the  name  of  parent-teacher 
associations..  It  is  hoped  that  a  survey  of  the  children  of  school 
age  who  are  out  of  school  will  be  made. —  [Letter  from  State  division 
of  the  Woman's  Committee  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
Feb.  20,  1919.] 
Council  of  Defense. 

The  State  council  of  defense  will  be  disbanded  as  soon  as  the  re- 
construction commission  created  by  the  legislature  is  ready  to  work. 
Its  only  remaining  activities  are  caring  for  returning  soldiers  and 
giving  them  legal  advice. — [Letter  from  chairman,  State  council  of 
defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Aug.  14,  1919.] 
Employment. 

The  State  council  of  defense,  in  connection  Avith  the  United  States 
Employment  Service,  is  endeavoring  to  have  community  boards  in 
every  county  assist  returning  soldiers  in  finding  employment.  The 
State  council  has,  in  almost  all  the  counties  of  the  State,  soldiers' 
business  aid  committees  which  are  doing  all  in  their  power  to  help  the 
soldiers.  In  addition,  the  chairmen  of  the  county  councils  are  indi- 
vidually acting  as  advisers  for  the  soldiers  and  as  helpers  in  secur- 
ing situations.  The  State  agricultural  extension  service  has  in- 
structed each  one  of  its  county  agents  to  help  returning  service  men 
to  secure  farm  situations,  to  advise  them  about  the  purchase  of  land 
in  case  they  want  to  buy,  to  help  them  in  renting  lands  wherever 


NORTH   CAEOLIXA.  245 

they  so  desire,  and  to  advise  with  them  in  the  cultivation  of  their 
crops. — [Letter  from  State  council  of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of 
National  Defense,  Mar.  28,  1919.] 

Employment  offices  mantained  in  North  Carolina  by  the  Federal 
Government  in  cooperation  with  State  and  local  organizations,  re- 
port that  during  the  six  months'  period  January  1  to  June  30, 
1919,  21,080  persons  were  registered  who  were  seeking  employment; 
9,9-18  requests  for  employees  were  received ;  and  16,061  persons  were 
placed  by  these  offices. — [Compiled  from  statistics  furnished  b}'  U.  S. 
Employment  Service,  Aug.  8,  1919.] 

Citations  have  been  issued  by  the  United  States  War  and  Navy 
Departments  to  588  firms  in  the  State,  these  employers  having  as- 
sured the  departments  that  they  will  reemploy  every  returned  service 
man  who  formerly  worked  for  them  and  left  to  serve  in  the  Army 
or  Navy  during  the  World  War. — [Memorandum  from  assistant  to 
Secretary  of  War  in  the  replacement  of  service  men  to  civil  life,  to 
U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Nov.  20,  1919.] 
Highways. 

The  State  highway  commissioner  advises  that  about  $15,000,000  will 
be  used  in  the  State  on  road  construction,  and  that  the  State  has  made 
arrangements  to  match  the  Federal  fund  allotted  to  it. — [Bulletin  No. 
47,  HighAvays  Transport  Committee,  U.  S.  Council  of  National  De- 
fense.] 

A  bill  has  been  passed  by  the  legislature  levying  taxes  on  motor 
vehicles  to  provide  funds  for  the  construction  and  maintenance  of  a 
system  of  State  highways  and  to  enable  the  State  to  secure  the 
benefits  of  Federal  aid  therefor. —  [Laws  of  North  Carolina,  1919. 
ch.  189.] 

In  all  parts  of  the  State  bonds  have  been  issued  for  road  building. 
Lenoir  County  has  voted  $2,000,000;  Eobeson,  $1,500,000;  Union, 
$500,000;  Mecklenburg,  $1,000,000;  and  Gaston,  an  adjoining  county, 
will  follow  with  a  bond  issue  of  $500,000. — [Christian  Science  Moni- 
tor, Boston,  Mass.,  July  9, 1919.] 

On  October  1,  1919,  53  highway  projects  had  been  approved  in  the 
State,  involving  the  improvement  of  424.08  miles  of  road  at  a  total 
estimated  cost  of  $3,773,122.05,  of  which  the  Federal  Government 
is  requested  to  pay  $1,519,735.32  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of 
the  Federal-aid  road  act  of  July  11,  1916,  as  amended  by  the  act  of 
February  28,  1919. — [Statement  prepared  by  Bureau  of  Public  Roads, 
U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture.] 
Information  Service  for  Returned  Service  Men. 

The  local  branches  of  the  American  Red  Cross  are  cooperating 
with  other  organizations  in  establishing  contacts  with  service  men 
for  the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  adjustment  of  their  allotments, 


246       UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  BECONSTKUCTION. 

allowance  accounts,  compensation  and  claims,  and  the  reinstatement 
of  lapsed  or  canceled  insurance.  It  is  the  desire  of  the  Bureau  of 
War  Kisk  Insurance  that  all  inquiries  of  this  nature  be  cleared 
through  the  home-service  sections  of  the  American  Red  Cross.  Up 
to  April  1,  1919,  the  American  Red  Cross  had  organized  in  North 
Carolina  236  units  with  a  total  of  515  workers. — [Statement  prepared 
by  American  National  Red  Cross  for  U.  S.  Council  of  National 
Defense,  November,  1919.] 
Land  Settlement. 

On  March  10  an  act  was  ratified  providing  for  cooperation  between 
the  United  States  and  the  State  in  the  settlement  of  soldiers,  sailors, 
marines,  and  others  upon  State  lands  and  lands  acquired  under  the 
terms  of  the  act.  For  the  administration  of  the  act  the  appointment 
was  authorized  of  a  soldier-settlement  board,  to  consist  of  three 
members  appointed  by  the  governor.  Power  was  given  the  board  to 
undertake  projects  in- cooperation  with  the  United  States  involving 
the  reclamation,  by  all  metliods,  of  lands  within  the  State  in  order 
to  make  them  suitable  for  agricultural  purposes  and  rural  homes. — - 
[Laws  of  North  Carolina,  1919,  ch.  266.] 
Public  Works. 

Reports  received  in  January,  1919,  cover  21  public  buildings  and 
construction  projects  which  were  under  way  or  contemplated  in  the 
State,  aggregating  an  estimated  value  of  $3,055,000.  Of  this  number 
13  were  street  improvements,  estimated  to  cost  $1,765,000;  and  4 
were  schools,  estimated  to  cost  $300,000. — [Statistics  compiled  by 
Division  of  Public  Works  and  Construction  Developments,  U.  S. 
Dept.  of  Labor,  Apr.  17,  1919.] 

Reconstruction  Commission. 

The  State  reconstruction  commission,  created  by  act  of  the  legis- 
lature and  ratified  March  10,  will  consist  of  25  men  representing 
as  far  as  practicable  all  the  various  industries  and  employments  of 
the  State,  to  be  appointed  by  the  governor.  It  will  be  the  duty  of 
the  commission  to  make  investigations  and  to  report  in  reference  to 
the  industrial,  commercial,  economic,  sociological,  and  military  needs 
and  requirements  of  the  State  which  have  been  produced  by  the 
World  War  and  by  the  readjustment  of  the  State  to  conditions  of 
peace ;  to  take  such  advisory  measures  as  it  may  deem  fit  in  reference 
to  such  matters;  to  consult  -with  the  several  State  and  Federal 
departments  and  such  civic  organizations  as  may  offer  information 
or  recommendations  in  reference  to  such  matters ;  to  make  investiga- 
tion and  suggest  plans  for  the  coordination  and  cooperation  of  the 
resources  of  the  State  during  the  period  of  readjustment  after  tho 
war;  to  make  investigations  and  recommendations  on  all  matters 
requiring  the  cooperation  of  Federal  and  State  Governments ;  and  to 


NORTH  DAKOTA.  247 

^  ..>''  ^-        - 

plan  methods  of  cooperating  with  the  Federal  authorities  in  devising 
and  carrying  out  national  policies  during  the  period  of  war  recon- 
struction. The  act  carried  an  appropriation  for  the  work  of  the 
commission  for  the  years  1919  and  1920. — [Laws  of  North  Carolina, 
1919,  ch.  261.] 
Reconstruction  Problems. 

The  University  of  North  Carolina  has  issued  a  pamphlet  on  recon- 
struction and  citizenship,  as  the  first  of  an  after-the-war  information 
series  to  he  put  out  by  the  extension  department.  It  gives  a  brief 
statement  of  some  of  the  problems  which  are  challenging  the  thought 
and  efforts  of  American  people,  and  a  program  of  the  work  which  the 
university  hopes  to  do  toward  helping  to  solve  them. — [Survey,  New 
York,  KY.,  Apr.  5,  1919.] 

School  Gardens. 

School  gardens  are  being  conducted  in  23  cities  and  towns,  the  total 
present  enrollment  in  the  State  being  13,700. — [Prepared  from  mate- 
rial furnished  by  U.  S.  School  Garden  Army  to  U.  S.  Council  of 
National  Defense.  Nov.  1,  1919.] 
Vocational  Reeducation  of  Disabled  Service  Men. 

In  accordance  with  section  2  of  the  Federal  vocational  rehabili- 
tation act  of  June  27.  1918,  as  amended  July  11,  1919,  arrangements 
had  been  made  up  to  October  25,  1919,  by  the  Federal  Board  for 
Vocational  Education  with  nine  educational  institutions  in  the  State 
for  the  reeducation  of  service  men  to  overcome  the  handicap  of 
disabilities  incurred  in  the  service.  A  total  of  129  such  men  have 
been  sent  to  these  institutions  for  training.  Arrangements  have 
also  been  made  by  this  board  with  four  industrial  establishments  in 
the  State  whereby  the  latter  have  undertaken  to  train  five  disabled 
men. — [Compiled  from  statement  prepared  by  Rehabilitation  Divi- 
sion, Federal  Board  for  Vocational  Education.] 

NORTH   DAKOTA. 

Bonuses  for  Service  Men. 

A  bill  was  passed  by  the  legislature  providing  that  any  citizen  of 
the  State  who  has  been  honorably  discharged  from  the  military  or 
naval  forces  of  the  United  States  or  of  any  of  the  Governments 
associated  with  the  United  States  may,  after  proper  application  has 
been  approved  by  the  adjutant  general,  receive  from  the  fund  for 
returned  soldiers  $25  for  every  month,  or  fraction  of  a  month,  that 
he  was  in  the  service.  The  fund  for  this  purpose  will  be  obtained 
by  levying  a  tax  of  J  mill  upon  all  assessed  property  in  the  State. 
It  is  optional  with  the  soldier  whether  he  uses  this  money  to  make  a 
first  payment  on  a  home,  as  provided  for  by  the  home-building  asso- 
ciation act,  or  whether  he  devotes  it  to  the  completion  of  his  educa- 


248       UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  EECONSTRUCTION. 

tioii.  Payments  are  to  be  made  quarterly  until  all  soldiers  have  been 
paid  the  full  amount  due  them.  Soldiers  in  the  service  a  year  will  be 
entitled  to  $300  under  the  act.  A  referendum  vote  was  taken  June  26, 
when  this  bill  was  approA-ed. — [Laws  of  Xorth  Dakota,  1919,  p.  149.] 
Council  of  Defense. 

The  council  of  defense  is  solving  two  problems — food  and  surplus 
labor — by  putting  workmen  on  unused  farms  in  order  to  stimulate 
crop  production  in  the  Northwest. — [Dispatch,  Columbus,  Ohio,  Jan. 
IT,  1919.] 

The  State  council  at  present  plans  to  continue  only  until  May  1. — 
[Letter  from  the  governor  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
Jan.  22,  1919.] 
Employment. 

A  committee  was  named  to  formulate  plans  for  the  organization 
of  soldiers'  aid  bureaus,  at  a  meeting  of  representatives  of  various 
Fargo  war  workers,  civic,  fraternal,  religious,  and  labor  organiza- 
tions, with  the  United  States  Employment  Service.  This  com- 
mittee will  perfect  plans  and  report  later  at  a  general  meeting  of 
all  Fargo  organizations.  These  bureaus  are  being  organized  in  every 
county  and  community  of  the  State,  and  their  purpose  is  to  cen- 
tralize the  work  of  caring  for  the  i^eturned  soldiers  by  listing  posi- 
tions, encouraging  industries,  and  placing  men.  There  were  about 
24,000  men  in  the  service  from  this  State,  and  the  placing  of  these 
men  is  a  big  job.  Many  have  returned  skilled  artisans  and  will  not 
want  their  old  jobs  back. — [Courier-News,  Fargo,  N.  Dak.,  Jan.  9, 
1919.] 

Steps  have  been  taken  in  Fargo  to  keep  the  Federal  labor  bureau 
working  for  at  least  60  days  longer.  At  Grand  Forks  those  in 
charge  have  taken  measures  to  retain  the  service  until  all  the  sol- 
diers have  been  discharged  and  provided  with  employment.  Cessa- 
tion of  activities  would  greatly  disrupt  the  favorable  labor  situa- 
tion and  cause  anxiety  both  to  the  soldiers  and  the  farmers.^ 
[Courier-News,  Fargo,  N.  Dak.,  Mar.  15,  1919.] 

The  legislature,  fearing  that  the  farm  labor  shortage  might 
prove  serious  this  spring,  in  a  concurrent  resolution  approved  Feb- 
ruary 21,  asked  the  United  States  War  Department  for  the  dis- 
charge of  North  Dakota  soldiers.  They  also  asked  the  command- 
ing officer  of  Camp  Dodge  to  release  as  many  men  as  possible  im- 
mediately so  that  they  may  work  on  the  farms. — [Laws  of  North 
Dakota,  1919,  p.  338.] 

Employment  offices  maintained  in  North  Dakota  by  the  Federal 
Government  in  cooperation  with  State  and  local  organizations,  re- 
port that  during  the  six  months'  period  January  1  to  June  30,  1919, 
11,893    persons    were   registered    who    were   seeking   employment;. 


NORTH   DAKOTA.  249 

11,485  requests  for  employees  were  received;  and  7,603  persons 
Avere  placed  by  these  offices. — [Compiled  from  statistics  furnished 
by  U.  S.  Employment  Service,  Aug.  8,  1919.] 

Citations  have  been  issued  by  the  United  States  War  and  Navy 
Departments  to  75  firms  in  the  State,  these  employers  having  as- 
sured the  departments  that  they  will  reemploy  every  returned  serv- 
ice man  who  formerly  worked  for  them  and  left  to  serve  in  the 
Army  or  Xavy  during  the  World  War.— [Memorandum  from  assist- 
ant to  Secretary  of  War  in  the  replacement  of  service  men  to  civil 
life,  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Nov.  20,  1919.] 
Eng-lish  Language  in  Schools. 

House  bill  9G,  Avhich  was  introduced  in  the  legislature  but  failed 
to  pass,  provided  that  only  the  English  language  should  be  taught 
in  schools  up  to  and  including  the  eighth  grade. — [School  Life, 
U.  S.  Dept.  of  the  Interior,  Mar.  1,  1919.] 
Highways. 

On  October  1.  1919,  52  highway  projects  had  been  approved  in  the 
State,  involving  the  improvement  of  727.01  miles  of  road  at  a  total 
estimated  cost  of  $1,178,232.64,  of  which  the  Federal  Government  is 
requested  to  pay  $554,193.40  in  accordance  Avith  the  provisions  of 
the  Federal-aid  road  act  of  July  11 J  1916,  as  amended  by  the  act  of 
February  28,  1919. — [Statement  prepared  by  Bureau  of  Public 
Eoads,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture.] 
Information  Service  for  Returned  Service  Men. 

The  local  branches  of  the  American  Red  Cross  are  cooperating 
with  other  organizations  in  establishing  contacts  with  service  men 
for  the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  adjustment  of  their  allotments, 
allowance  accounts,  compensation  and  claims,  and  the  reinstatement 
of  lapsed  or  canceled  insurance.  It  is  the  desire  of  the  Bureau  of 
War  Risk  Insurance  that  all  inquiries  of  this  nature  be  cleared 
through  the  home-service  sections  of  the  American  Red  Cross.  Up 
to  April  1,  1919,  the  American  Red  Cross  had  organized  in  North 
Dakota  383  units  with  a  total  of  2,413  workers. — [Statement  pre- 
pared by  American  National  Red  Cross  for  U.  S.  Council  of  National 
Defense,  November,  1919.] 
Land  Settlement. 

The  State  committee  on  land  for  returning  soldiers  is  making 
efforts  to  develop  some  plan  whereby  the  soldiers  can  be  furnished 
land  at  a  low  rate  of  interest  and  on  long-term  payments.  The  com- 
mittee is  making  the  suggestion  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Interior  that 
the  State  furnish  the  land  and  the  Federal  Government  the  equip- 
ment and  working  capital. — [Courier-News,  Fargo,  N.  Dak.,  Nov. 
19,  1918.] 


250        UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  EECONSTRUCTION. 

Pill  lie  Works. 

"Reports  received  in  January,  1919,  cover  26  public  building  and 
construction  projects  which  were  under  way  or  contemplated  in  the 
State,  aggregating  an  estimated  value  of  $2,370,000.  Of  this  number 
13  were  street  improvements,  estimated  to  cost  $1,100,000;  and  8 
were  schools,  estimated  to  cost  $910,000. — [Statistics  compiled  by 
Division  of  Public  Works  and  Construction  Developments,  IT.  S. 
Dept.  of  Labor,  Apr.  17,  1919.] 
Begistration  of  Discharge  Papers. 

Provision  for  recording  the  discharges  of  ex-service  men  of  Cass 
County  has  been  made  at  the  office  of  the  clerk  of  the  district  court. 
By  this  arrangement,  certified  copies  will  be  made  witltoiit  fee  of 
all  discharges  sent  to  the  office  of  the  clerk.  It  was  stated  that  this 
would  not  only  give  the  county  a  record  of  its  men  in  service  but 
also  prove  of  value  to  the  men  themsehes,  who  might  lose  their  dis- 
charges and  need  them  in  asking  for  pensions,  applying  for  citizen- 
ship, 01-  in  numerous  other  instances. — [Courier-Xews,  Fargo,  N. 
Dak.,  May  10,  1919.] 
School  Gardens. 

School  gardens  are  being  conducted  in  36  cities  and  towns,  tho 
total  present  enrollment  in  the  State  being  10,952.  In  Grand  Forks 
during  the  fiscal  year  ending  June  30, 1919,  there  were  1,245  children 
enrolled. — [Prepared  from  material  furnished  by  U.  S.  School  Gar- 
den Army  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Nov.  1,  1919.] 

State  Ownership  of  Industrial  Enterprises. 

Legislation  providing  for  State-owned  industrial  enterprises  be- 
came operative  upon  the  approval  by  a  referendum  vote  taken  June 
26,  of  a  group  of  bills  which  furnish  the  means  to  carry  out  this 
policy.  These  bills  provide  for  an  industrial  commission  (H.  17) ;  for 
State  control  and  operation  of  mills  and  elevators  (S.  20)  ;  and  for 
the  establishment  of  a  State  bank  with  which  to  finance  industries  (H. 
18;  49).  This  legislation  also  includes  a  home  builders'  act  (S.  19), 
by  which  the  State  will  engage  in  the  construction  of  homes  for  resi- 
dents on  a  building  and  loan  association  basis;  and  three  bonding 
bills  (H.  49;  S.  75;  130)  carrying  a  total  of  $17,000,000  with  which 
to  cai-ry  out  the  industrial  program. — [Laws  of  North  Dakota,  1919.  J 

The  industrial  commission  will  operate  a  banking  system  under  the 
name  of  Bank  of  North  Dakota,  the  bank  being  established  by  the 
issue  of  $2,000,000  in  State  bonds.  All  public  funds  of  the  State, 
counties,  cities,  and  school  districts  are  to  be  deposited  in  the  State 
bank,  and  this  bank  will  also  become  the  depositary  of  the  reserves 
maintained  by  the  State  banks.  The  State  bank  will  issue  bonds  to 
finance  the  agricultural  and  industrial  enterprises  undertaken  by  the 
State. 


OHIO.  251 

Homes  maj'^  be  built  or  farms  purchased  upon  a  20  per  cent  payment 
of  the  purchase  price,  amortization  payments  to  be  made  over  a  maxi- 
n[um  period  of  20  j^ears.  A  string  of  elevators,  flour  mills,  factories, 
and  warehouses  v^ill  be  established.  A  milling  association  having 
$5,000,000  to  work  with  will  attend  to  this  phase  of  the  State's  indus- 
trial enterprise. — [Laws  of  Xorth  Dakota,  1919,  p.  214:.] 

An  act,  approved  March  13,  authorizes  the  commissioner  of  agri- 
culture and  labor  to  engage  in  the  activities  connected  with  the 
manufacturing  and  marketing  of  dairy  products. — [Laws  of  North 
Dakota,  1919,  H.  127.] 

The  State  legislation  having  been  approved  by  the  people  at  the 
recent  referendum,  the  State  will  enter  immediately  upon  the  business 
of  handling  grain  and  manufacturing  of  flour.  It  will  also  put  into 
operation  a  State  bank,  which  will  finance  farm  credits  to  the  extent 
of  $10,000,000.  Other  industries  may  be  entered  upon  later  as  the 
industrial  commission  for  the  State,  into  whose  hands  has  been  com- 
mitted the  industrial  scheme,  is  empowered  to  proceed  with  the  estab- 
lishment of  any  manufacturing  or  marketing  enterprises  having  to  do 
with  the  manufacture  or  marketing  of  farm  products. — [Times, 
Washington,  D.  C,  June  30,  1919.] 

Vocational  Reeducation  of  Disabled  Service  Men. 

In  accordance  with  section  2  of  the  Federal  vocational  rehabili- 
tation act  of  June  27,  1918,  as  amended  July  11,  1919,  arrangements 
had  been  made  up  to  October  25,  1919,  by  the  Federal  Board  for 
Vocational  Education  with  four  educational  institutions  in  the  State 
for  the  reeducation  of  service  men  to  overcome  the  handicap  of  dis- 
abilities incurred  in  the  service.  A  total  of  15  such  men  have  been 
sent  to  these  institutions  for  training.  Arrangements  have  also  been 
made  by  this  board  with  an  industrial  establishment  in  the  State 
whereby  the  latter  has  undertaken  to  train  a  disabled  man. — [Com- 
piled from  statement  prepared  by  Rehabilitation  Division,  Federal 
Board  for  Vocational  Education.] 

OHIO. 

Americanization. 

The  Americanization  division  of  the'  State  council  of  defense 
held  a  meeting  on  January  3,  for  the  special  purpose  of  considering 
plans  by  which  there  might  be  secured  by  legislative  enactment  a 
permanent  basis  for  State  direction  of  Americanization  activities. 
A  subcommittee  has  been  appointed  to  draft  such  a  bill.  The  idea 
is  to  retain  a  broad  representative  committee  back  of  the  work,  with 
executives  who  may  serve  as  the  means  of  organizing  local  Ameri- 
canization agencies  and  of  linking  up  the  policies  of  the  local  com- 
munities with  those  of  the  Federal  and  State  Governments.    In  the 


252        UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  EECONSTRUCTION. 

V 

meantime  the  council  has  sent  a  letter  to  all  the  local  Americaniza- 
tion committees,  or  to  some  school  authority  in  localities  where  there 
i^  no  committee,  urging  that  the  work  be  kept  going,  and  pointing 
out  its  importance. — [Letter  from  State  council  of  defense  to  U.  S. 
Council  of  National  Defense,  Jan.  11,  1919.] 

About  25  cities  in  Ohio  have  Americanization  committees  at  work, 
and  other  cities  are  preparing  to  organize  such  committees. — [Pub- 
lication of  State  council  of  defense,  Feb.  1,  1919.] 

With  the  object  of  organizing  an  agency  to  oversee  the  develop- 
ment of  the  foreigner,  to  provide  for  his  proper  education,  civic 
training,  and  naturalization,  an  American  house  has  been  opened 
in  Cincinnati,  in  a  building  hitherto  a  saloon,  about  which  the  social 
activities  of  some  14,000  foreigners  are  centered.  This  was  done 
under  the  auspices  of  the  chamber  of  commerce,  the  immigrant  w^el- 
fare  association,  and  the  public-school  department  of  civic  and  voca- 
tional service.  An  appropriation  of  $10,000  from  the  war  chest  of 
the  Hamilton  County  council  of  defense  made  possible  the  remodel- 
ing of  the  building,  for  which  upkeep  appropriations  of  $9,000  for 
this  year  and  $13,720  for  next  year  have  been  made  by  the  budget 
commission  of  the  council  of  social  agencies,  so  that  no  expense  at- 
taches to  the  self-regulating  of  the  club  through  which  American- 
ization is  progressing.  The  women's  organizations  of  the  city  do- 
nated the  furnishings  of  the  clubhouse,  attached  to  which  are  excel- 
lent bathing  facilities,  as  well  as  an  auditorium  and  recreation 
park.— [Survey,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Mar.  1,  1919.] 

An  Americanization  bill  is  before  the  legislature  carrying  an  ap- 
propriation of  $25,000,  one  feature  of  which  is  the  creation  of  a 
special  standing  committee  with  the  State  superintendent  of  schools 
at  its  head,  to  take  over  Americanization  Avork  formerly  conducted 
under  the  State  council  of  defense.  Another  piece  of  proposed  legis- 
lation requires  that  all  minors  under  21  years  of  age  who  do  not 
possess  a  good  knowledge  of  the  English  language  and  American 
ideals  shall  attend  classes  for  a  period  of  not  less  than  24  hours  a 
week.— [Times-Star,  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  Mar.  19,  1919.] 

A  committee  of  five  has  been  authorized  to  expend  $25,000  for  the 
eradication  of  illiteracy  and  promotion  of  better  living  conditions 
among  the  foreign  born  of  the  State. —  [Memorandum  from  Ameri- 
canization division,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  the  Interior  to  U  S  Council  of 
National  Defense,  July  23,  1919.] 

Libraries  are  doing  w^ork  in  Cleveland  among  the  foreign  born. 
Contacts  with  the  foreign  adults  are  made  through  the  children  and 
the  foreign-language  press.  Personally  addressed  library  announce- 
ments delivered  by  the  libra^-y  workers  are  bringing  results. —  [For- 
eign-American Series,  Bulletin  No.  10,  National  War  AVork  Council, 
Young  ]Men  s  Christian  Association,  New  York,  N.  Y.] 


OHIO.  253 

i 

At  Cleveland  there  is  an  attendance  of  450  in  the  citizenship 
classes  that  arc  conducted  in  seven  centers  of  the  city.  The  classes 
meet  twice  a  week  from  7  to  9  p.  m.  A  manufacturing  concern  is 
conducting  classes  in  the  plant,  and  the  men  attend  on  company 
time.  The  company  also  furnishes  legal  advice  free  to  their  alien 
employees  Avho  wish  to  be  naturalized. — [Compiled  from  forth- 
coming report  of  director  of  citizenship  to  Commissioner  of  Natural- 
ization, U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor,  1920.] 

The  Cleveland  Americanization  committee  of  the  mayor's  war 
board  has  issued  a  pamphlet  giving  an  account  of  work  among  the 
foreign  born  in  that  city. — [Pamphlet,  Americanization  in  Cleveland, 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  September,  1919.] 

The  interest  of  several  foreign  groups  in  Lorain  was  secured  at 
the  outset  of  community  service  activities  in  connection  w  ith  Ameri- 
canization, and  they  began  to  raise  funds  to  equip  clubrooms.  A 
citizenship  campaign  was  planned  in  June  aiming  to  gain  followers 
through  industries,  each  employer  being  requested  to  distribute  cards 
urging  immediate  action  on  the  part  of  employees  in  preparing  for 
citizenship). 

The  teaching  of  English  to  the  foreign  born  and  the  organizing  of 
kindergartens  in  the  public  schools  are  included  in  the  program  of 
community  service  for  Americanizing  foreigners  in  Youngstown. 
The  members  of  the  board  of  education  are  cooperating  with  the 
community  organizer  to  secure  funds  for  the  kindergartens. — [Report 
of  War  Camp  Community  Service  for  U.  S.  Council  of  National 
Defense,  August,  1919.] 
Assistance  for  Service  Men  and  Their  Families. 

Lender  the  direction  of  the  State  council  of  defense,  legal  aid  com- 
mittees have  been  established  throughout  the  State  for  the  purpose 
of  furnishing  free  legal  advice.  Assistance  is  afforded  returning 
disabled  soldiers  and  sailors  in  securing  rights  and  advantages  pro- 
vided by  legislature.  This  work  is  being  conducted  by  the  State 
council  of  defense  and  the  State  department  of  the  Federal  Board 
for  Vocational  Education. — [Letter  from  State  council  of  defense 
to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  23, 1919.] 

The  American  Red  Cross  is  furnishing  medical  and  other  assist- 
ance to  soldiers  and  their  families,  and  is  prepared  to  furnish 
clothing  where  needed.  The  War  Camp  Community  Service  is  also 
looking  after  returning  soldiers,  especially  those  who  are  disabled. — 
[Letter  from  mayor  of  Dayton  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
Mar.  24,  1919.] 

House  bill  88  provides  for  the  burial,  at  a  cost  not  to  exceed  $125, 
of  the  body  of  any  honorably  discharged  soldier,  sailor,  or  marine, 
or  his  mother,  wife,  or  widow,  or  any  Army  nurse  who  dies,  not  hav- 


254       UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

ing  the  means  to  defra}^  the  necessary  funeral  expenses.  House  bill 
508  extends  the  provisions  of  the  soldier  relief  acts  to  soldiers, 
sailors,  and  marines  of  the  war  with  Germany,  and  their  wives, 
widows,  indigent  parents,  minor  children,  and  wards. — [Information 
Bureau,  American  National  Bed  Cross,  Compendium  Change  No. 
IIT.] 

"  Back-to-School "  Drive. 

In  the  "  Back-to-school "  drive  each  county  chairman  obtained  lists 
of  children  under  18  years  of  age  who  were  out  of  school.  A  sum- 
mary sheet  was  sent  to  every  county  to  assist  the  chairman  in  analyz- 
ing returns.  A  large  number  of  the  boys  staying  at  home  worked 
on  farms. — [Report  of  child  conservation  section  of  the  Field  Di- 
vision to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Oct.  1,  1918,  to  July  1, 
1919.] 

Building  Activity. 

The  members  of  the  Builders'  Exchange  of  Cleveland  have  ex- 
pressed their  desire  to  aid  in  the  movement  to  provide  work  for  the 
returning  soldiers  who  are  skilled  craftsmen.  The  directors  have 
adopted  resolutions  suggesting  the  financial  advantages,  and  the 
probabilities  of  obtaining  better  attention  by  starting  immediately 
all  forms  of  construction  work. — [Plain  Dealer,  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
Jan.  81,  1919.] 

Community  Organization. 

The  State  division  of  the  Woman's  Committee,  United  States 
Council  of  National  Defense,  indorses  the  community  organization 
idea  and,  although  the  executive  meeting  of  the  State  division  has 
not  been  called  to  discuss  the  question,  it  seems  very  probable  that 
they  will  favor  a  recommendation  to  establish  a  commission  in  Wash- 
ington as  the  Federal  center  for  community  organizations.  No  steps 
have  been  taken  to  secure  a  State  commission. — [Reply  from  State 
division  of  the  Woman's  Committee  to  questionnaire  of  U.  S.  Coun- 
cil of  National  Defense,  Mar.  3,  1919.] 

On  March  27  the  governor  called  a  meeting  of  State  representatives 
of  all  national  agencies  operating  in  the  State  which  are  doing  re- 
construction and  community  work.  Twenty-seven  representatives 
attended  the  meeting  and  agreed  to  form  a  permanent  body,  to  meet 
once  a  month,  to  discuss  a  State  program,  to  avoid  duplication  of 
effort,  and  to  divide  the  field  of  work  where  extension  is  planned  to 
those  communities  which  now  have  none  of  these  agencies.  It  is  ex- 
pected ultimately  that  the  State  division  of  the  Woman's  Committee, 
United  States  Council  of  National  Defense,  can  turn  over  to  this 
body  what  is  left  of  its  organization. — [Letter  from  executive  secre- 
tary. State  division  of  the  Woman's  Committee  to  U.  S.  Council  of 
National  Defense,  Apr.  3, 1919.] 


OHIO.  255 

f 

East  Palestine,  a  city  of  6,000  population,  set  up  in  less  than  one 
month  a  community  organization  of  1,500,  including  300  women, 
under  the  leadership  of  its  chamber  of  commerce. — [Tribune,  New 
York,N.  Y.,  Aug.  8,  1919.] 
Council  of  Defense. 

The  State  council  of  defense  has  dissolved.  Each  local  council  has 
been  advised  to  continue  under  local  control.  Local  councils  were 
asked  to  cooperate  with  the  American  Red  Cross  and  the  United 
States  Employment  Service  in  placing  discharged  soldiers.  A  sub- 
committee of  the  former  State  council  is  still  continuing  the  work  of 
giving  free  legal  aid  to  discharged  men.  A  State  committee,  com- 
prised of  six  members  of  the  legislature  and  the  State  superintendent 
of  instruction,  will  take  charge  of  Americanization  activities  on 
September  1. — [Reply  from  State  council  of  defense  to  questionnaire 
of  the  Field  Division,  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  June  26, 
1919.] 
Education  of  Returned  Service  Men. 

The  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  is  furnishing  educational 
opportunities  to  returning  service  men. — [Letter  from  mayor  of 
Dayton  to  LL  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  24,  1919.] 

Employment;. 

The  State  council  of  defense  has  made  arrangements  with  the 
American  Red  Cross  whereby  its  local  chapters  will  act  as  bureaus 
for  returning  soldiers  and  sailors  in  localities  where  the  council  has 
no  employment  office.  It  has  also  made  arrangements  for  coopera- 
tion in  this  work  with  all  war  agencies  in  their  respective  localities. — 
[Letter  from  State  council  of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National 
Defense,  Feb.  25,  1919.] 

The  work  of  securing  employment  for  returning  soldiers  and 
sailors  is  being  conducted  by  offices  of  the  United  States  Employ- 
ment Service  and  the  State  council  of  defense  in  various  cities  in 
Ohio  in  cooperation  with  committees  of  the  American  Red  Cross. 
In  cities  and  counties  where  no  employment  offices  are  maintained 
American  Red  Cross  committees  handle  employment  work. — [Letter 
from  State  council  of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
Mar.  23,  1919.] 

The  State  legislature  has  passed  a  bill  appropriating  $18,000  to 
continue  19  offices  of  the  LTnited  States  Employment  Service. — [Oral 
statement  of  Director  General,  U.  S.  Employment  Service.] 

Employment  offices  maintained  in  Ohio  by  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment, in  cooperation  with  State  and  local  organizations,  report  that 
during  the  six  months'  period  January  1  to  June  30,  1919,  275,1-1:4: 
persons  were  registered  who  were  seeking  employment;  272,601  re- 
quests for  employees  were  received ;  and  187,853  persons  were  placed 


256       UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

by  these  offices. — [Compiled  from  statistics  furnislied  by  U.  S.  Em- 
plo^^ment  Service,  Aug.  8,  1919.] 

Citations  have  been  issued  by  the  United  States  War  and  ^nvy 
Departments  to  3,710  firms  in  the  State,  these  employers  having  as- 
sured the  departments  that  they  will  reemploy  every  returned  service 
man  who  formerly  worked  for  them  and  left  to  serve  in  the  Army  or 
Navy  during  the  World  War. — [Memorandum  from  assistant  to  Sec- 
retary of  War  in  the  replacement  of  service  men  to  civil  life,  to  U.  S. 
Council  of  National  Defense,  Nov.  20,  1919.] 

Canton  factories  are  absorbing  not  only  their  own  men  as  they 
return  from  Army  camps,  but  many  soldiers  and  sailors  from  other 
sections.  Conditions  are  better  in  the  Middle  West,  business  is  more 
stable,  and  work  is  easier  to  find.  This  in  part  explains  the  steady 
stream  of  outside  men  which  has  flowed  into  Canton  and  the  sur- 
rounding districts  since  the  beginning  of  demobilization. — [News, 
Canton,  Ohio,  May  14,  1919.] 

In  Chillicothe  a  branch  of  the  United  States  Employment  Service 
was  established  at  the  War  Camp  Connnunity  Service  club.  Later 
the  chamber  of  commerce  undertook  the  work,  and  the  War  Camp 
Community  Service  continued  to  supply  information  to  the  men 
concerning  positions  but  did  no  direct  work  in  placing  the  men. — 
[Report  of  War  Camp  Community  Service  for  U.  S.  Council  of 
National  Defense,  August,  1919.] 

The  mayor  has  indorsed  the  appeal  of  employers  of  Cincinnati 
and  vicinity,  issued  by  the  American  Red  Cross,  to  give  preference 
in  the  employment  of  returned  soldiers.  Many  are  returning  from 
near-by  cantonments  who  wish  work.  The  majority  of  these  are 
negroes  who  can  not  find  their  old  jobs  because  of  a  change  to  Avar 
industries,  or  having  learned  a  trade  in  the  Army  wish  better  posi- 
tions. No  case  of  a  soldier  being  denied  his  old  position  when  it 
existed  has  been  known. — [Enquirer,  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  Dec.  27, 
1918.] 

In  Cincinnati  a  soldiers'  and  sailors'  auxiliary  employment  bureau 
is  working  in  connection  with  the  United  States  Employment  Serv- 
ice in  finding  employment  for  returning  service  men. — [Letter  from 
mayor  of  Cincinnati  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  2G, 
1919.] 

The  Cleveland  school  board  is  prepared  to  furnish  employment 
for  returned  soldiers  and  others  who  can  speak  Lithuanian,  Cro- 
atian, Italian,  and  other  languages  representing  Cleveland's  for- 
eign-born population.  They  are  needed  to  help  take  the  new  school 
census.  The  board  pays  5  cents  a  name. — [Press,  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
Mar.  11,  1919.] 

A  member  of  the  Federal  Board  for  Vocational  Education  of 
Cincinnati,  after  a  canvass  of  Cleveland  industries,  stated  that  he 


OHIO.  257 

had  not  found  an  instance  where  an  honorably  discharged  soldier 
had  not  been  given  an  opportunity  to  work. — [Plain  Dealer,  Cleve- 
land, Ohio,  Mar.  23,  1919.] 

It  has  been  estimated  by  directors  of  city  departments  in  Cleve- 
land that  more  than  7,500  men  will  obtain  employment  on  munici- 
pal buildings  and  improvements  in  this  city  during  the  1919  season. 
Expenditures  exceeding  $8,000,000  will  be  made  by  the  city  in  an 
effort  to  afford  employment  for  returning  soldiers  and  members  of 
the  building  trades.  Of  this  amount,  it  is  estimated  that  approx- 
imately $5,600,000  will  be  expended  in  wages.  Work  on  street  and 
sewer  extensions  and  pavements  will  begin  immediately. — [News, 
Dayton,  Ohio,  Mar.  27,  1919.] 

A  weekly  communication  to  Cleveland  employers  informing  them 
of  men  out  of  work,  their  qualifications  and  capabilities,  as  an  aid  to 
solving  the  unemployment  problem,  is  the  plan  of  the  Jewish  Wel- 
fare Board.  The  cooperation  of  employers  and  trade  associations 
is  asked.  A  large  number  of  men  are  being  placed  in  positions  every 
week. — [News,  Cleveland,  Ohio,  Apr.  1, 1919.] 

In  Daj^ton  the  chief  of  police  has  ordered  all  patrolmen  to  list  em- 
ployers on  their  beats  in  need  of  men  and  mail  notices  to  the  Federal 
employment  service.  The  service  has  opened  a  free  employment 
bureau  for  professional  men  and  experts.  It  is  stated  that  profes- 
sional men  are  having  difficulty  in  finding  suitable  employment.  The 
city  council  has  adopted  resolutions  against  the  giving  of  political 
positions  to  aliens  who  kept  out  of  the  war  and  are  now  rushing  to 
become  citizens  and  get  jobs,  and  calling  on  all  employers  to  give 
every  preference  to  discharged  soldiers. — [Herald,  Dayton,  Ohio, 
Feb.  19, 1919.] 

In  the  city  of  Dayton  the  Federal  employment  office  and  the  Young 
Men's  Christian  Association  are  endeavoring  to  provide  positions  for 
any  returning  soldiers  who  may  be  seeking  employment. — [Letter 
from  mayor  of  Dayton  to  IT.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar. 
24,  1919.] 

The  free  employment  bureau  in  Toledo,  which  was  operated  by  the 
Federal  employment  service,  will  be  maintained  jointly  by  the  State 
and  city  until  money  is  provided  by  the  Federal  Government.  The 
city  council  has  passed  an  ordinance  appropriating  $1,200  to  pay  the 
city's  share  of  the  expense  for  three  months.  The  Stat«  employment 
director  notified  the  city  that  the  State  industrial  commission  would 
pay  $2,300.— [Blade,  Toledo,  Ohio,  Mar.  25, 1919.] 
Highways. 

The  Ohio  Good  Koads  Federation  advises  that  there  are  three 
major  bills  in  the  general  assembly  affecting  highway  improvements. 
AYhile  several  sections  of  bills  relate  to  administrative  powers  and 
134286*— 20 17 


258       UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

duties,  yet  the  important  sections  relate  to  revenues  for  road- improve- 
ment purposes.  If  the  suggestions  incorporated  in  them  are  accepted 
b}^  the  general  assembly,  it  will  mean  an  increase  of  about  $2,500,000 
for  construction  purposes  in  the  State  highway  funds,  about  $3,000,- 
000  increase  in  county  funds,  and  about  $3,000,000  increase  from 
motor- vehicle  revenues  credited  to  the  maintenance  and  repair  funds. 
If  these  amounts  are  added  to  the  present  revenues,  the  road- 
improvement  fund  in  the  State  will  be  about  $17,000,000  annually 
for  the  next  three  years,  including  the  Federal-aid  fund. — [Bulletin 
No.  47,  Highways  Transport  Committee,  U.  S.  Council  of  National 
Defense.] 

On  October  1,  1919,  96  highway  projects  had  been  approved  in  the 
State,  involving  the  improvement  of  490.70  miles  of  road  at  a  total 
estimated  cost  of  $16,666,850.93,  of  which  the  Federal  Government 
is  requested  to  pay  $5,159,895.30  in  accordance  with  the  provisions 
of  the  Federal-aid  road  act  of  July  11,  1916,  as  amended  by  the  act 
of  February  28,  1919. — [Statement  pre]Dared  by  Bureau  of  Public 
Eoads,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture.] 
Housing  Accommodations. 

Cleveland  is  planning  to  relieve  the  housing  problem  by  the  crea- 
tion of  a  reconstruction  company  capitalized  at  $500,000,  which  will 
erect  duplex  and  group  houses  for  rent. — [Housing  Betterment, 
New  York,  N.  Y.,  February,  1919.] 

In  Crestline  there  is  a  marked  shortage  in  housing,  and  to  relieve 
it  an  "  Own-your-own-home  "  committee  has  been  organized. — [News 
release  of  IJ.  S.  Housing  Corporation,  No.  1350.] 

At  Hamilton  100  new  houses  are  being  constructed  to  assist  in  the 
housing  of  the  5,000  new  workers  who  will  be  employed  by  the  Ford 
tractor  plant. — [Housing  Betterment,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  February, 
1919.] 

At  Lorain  a  housing  canvass  has  revealed  a  shortage  of  700  houses, 
particularly  of  the  six  and  seven-room  type  and  designed  for  the 
working  classes.  In  addition,  apartments  are  needed  for  200  fami- 
lies. Energetic  measures  have  been  taken  to  supply  the  need.  Very 
recently  a  house-building  corporation  has  been  organized  with  a 
capital  of  $150,000,  and  arrangements  have  been  made  whereby  those 
desiring  to  build  a  hojne  will  be  given  every  possible  financial  as- 
sistance.— [News  release  of  U.  S.  Housing  Corporation,  No.  1350.] 

A  campaign  is  being  inaugurated  in  Toledo  for  the  purpose  of 
urging  the  construction  of  5,000  new  homes  in  the  city  this  spring. 
Upon  the  suggestion  of  the  Federal  Government,  the  mayor  has 
Hamed  an  executive  committee  to  forward  such  a  campaign.  Con- 
ferences of  building-material  dealers  are  going  on  daily  and  specific 
plans  of  cooperation  are  being  worked  out.  Committees  are  planning 
their  activities  which  will  reach  into  every  department  of  social  life ; 


OHIO.  259 

and  churches  and  schools  are  preparing  to  cooperate.  An  extensive 
campaign  of  publicity  will  be  carried  on  in  the  newspapers  and  in 
other  ways. — [Publication  of  the  Toledo  Chamber  of  Commerce, 
Mar.  31,  1919.] 

In  Youngstown  a  financing  corporation  is  being  formed  to  make 
possible  the  erection  of  5,000  homes.  The  plan  of  financing  the 
enterprise  provides  that  the  building  and  loan  associations  will  loan 
about  60  per  cent  of  the  cost  of  the  house,  the  prospective  owner  will 
provide  10  per  cent,  and  this  new  cooperation  will  take  care  of  the 
remaining  30  per  cent. — [Telegram,  Youngstown,  Ohio,  July  17, 
1919.] 
Information  Service  for  Returned  Service  Men. 

The  local  branches  of  the  American  Red  Cross  are  cooperating 
with  other  organizations  in  establishing  contacts  with  service  men 
for  the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  adjustment  of  their  allotments, 
allowance  accounts,  compensation  and  claims,  and  the  reinstatement 
of  lapsed  or  canceled  insurance.  It  is  the  desire  of  the  Bureau  of 
War  Risk  Insurance  that  all  inquiries  of  this  nature  be  cleared 
through  the  home-service  sections  of  the  American  Red  Cross.  Up 
to  April  1,  1919,  the  American  Red  Cross  had  organized  in  Ohio 
695  units  with  a  total  of  1,309  workers. — [Statement  prepared  by 
American  National  Red  Cross  for  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
November,  1919.] 
Land  Settlement. 

On  March  11,  1919,  the  governor  wrote  to  the  Secretary  of  the 
Interior  as  follows :  "  You  can  depend  upon  our  State  giving  you 
its  maximum  cooperation  in  furtherance  of  your  plan  to  bring  about 
a  soldiers'  movement  to  the  soil."  No  action  has  been  taken  by  the 
State  legislature  on  soldier-settlement  legislation. — [Memorandum 
from  Reclamation  Service,  IT.  S.  Dept.  of  the  Interior  to  U.  S. 
Council  of  National  Defense,  July  1,  1919.] 
Loans  to  Service  Men. 

In  Cincinnati  the  American  Red  Cross  home-service  section  and  the 
Cincinnati  Lodge,  No.  5,  Benevolent  and  Protex3tive  Order  of  Elks, 
have  facilities  for  making  loans  to  soldiers. — [Letter  from  mayor 
of  Cincinnati  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  26,  1919.] 
Preference  to  Returned  Service  Men  in  Public  Employment. 

The  secretary  of  the  county  jail  commission  announced  that  when 
construction  work  on  the  new  criminal  court  and  jail  buildings  at 
Cleveland  is  begun,  soldiers  will  be  given  preference  in  employ- 
ment.— [Press,  Cleveland,  Ohio,  Apr.  3,  1919.] 

Profiteering. 

A  sweeping  inquiry  to  cover  every  county  in  the  State  is  to  be 
made  by  the  State  attorney  general,  at  the  request  of  the  governor, 
into  the  causes  of  the  high  prices  of  food.    In  case  of  lack  of  coopera- 


260       UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  KECONSTRUCTION. 

tion  in  the  counties  the  governor  will  grant  authority  for  the  insti- 
tution of  an  inquiry  by  grand  jury  under  State  auspices. — [Post, 
New  York,  N.  Y.,  July  26,  1919.] 
Public  Recreation  Centers. 

Cleveland  has  set  aside  $500,000  for  the  purpose  of  providing 
recreation  centers  when  the  city  goes  dry.  Six  comfort  stations  on 
convenient  corners  will  be  opened,  and  these  will  be  fitted  up  in  an 
inviting  and  artistic  style.  A  $10,000  log  cabin  has  been  erected  in 
Garfield  Park;  and  a  boathouse,  costing  $150,000,  is  to  be  built  in 
Edgewater  Park.  New  parks  will  be  laid  out  and  pavilions  for 
dancing  will  be  opened. — [U.  S.  Department  of  Labor  publication, 
Apr.  17,  1919.] 
Public  Works. 

The  governor  has  proposed  to  put  in  operation  in  every  city  and 
county  in  the  State  plans  for  starting  at  once  millions  of  dollars' 
Avorth  of  public  improvements  in  order  to  provide  w^ork  for  the 
thousands  of  idle  men  in  the  State.  Letters  were  sent  by  the  gov- 
ernor to  160  mayors  and  boards  of  county  commissioners  urging  upon 
them  the  necessity  of  getting  action  at  the  earliest  possible  moment 
and  asking  them  to  report  Avhat  has  been  done  and  what  is  being 
done  in  the  matter.  A  warning  to  material  and  supply  men  that 
there  must  be  no  attempt  to  take  advantage  of  the  exigencies  of  the 
situation  by  charging  unduly  high  prices  was  sounded  by  the  gover- 
nor.— [Plain  Dealer,  Cleveland,  Ohio,  Jan.  31, 1919.] 

At  the  conference  called  by  the  governor  the  following  program 
was  decided  upon  for  relief  of  unemployment:  Public  w^orks  and 
improvements  be  undertaken  and  begun  immediately ;  in  undertaking 
public  works  and  improvements  as  proposed  at  this  time  to  relieve 
the  unemployment  situation  all  contracts  let  shall  include  provisions 
that  until  the  situation  is  relieved  only  resident  unemployed  workers 
shall  be  recruited,  with  the  exception  of  the  permanent  executive  and 
supervisory  organizations  of  the  contractors;  the  recruiting  of  all 
such  labor  be  handled  through  the  employment  service  now  in  opera- 
tion in  the  State,  in  order  to  protect  the  communities  from  an  influx 
of  nonresident  labor;  the  Federal  community  labor  board  be  desig- 
nated as  the  official  committee  to  handle  any  problems  regarding 
the  furnishing  of  work  to  men  in  particular  instances ;  workers  to  be 
eligible  shall  have  been  residents  of  the  State  for  at  least  one  year,  and 
county  or  city  for  at  least  six  months;  that  preference  be  given  to 
returned  soldiers  who  originally  were  inducted  or  enlisted  from  the 
county  in  w^hich  the  work  is  being  done  or  whose  home  is  in  the 
county,  and  to  men  with  dependents;  that  efforts  be  made  to  avoid 
giving  work  to  men  commonly  known  as  "  floaters." — [Letter  from 
Federal  field  secretary  of  Ohio  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
Feb.  1, 1919.] 


OHIO.  261 

Reports  received  in  January,  1919,  cover  153  public  building  and 
construction  projects  which  were  under  way  or  contemplated  in 
the  l^tate,  aggregating  an  estimate  value  of  $133,525,000.  Of  this 
number  26  were  sewers,  estimated  to  cost  $12,460,000;  22  street  im- 
provements, estimated  to  cost  $64,595,000;  and  30  waterworks,  esti- 
mated to  cost  $9,480,000. — [Statistics  compiled  by  the  Division  of 
Public  Works  and  Construction  Developments,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor, 
Apr.  17,  1919.] 

Definite  plans  for  the  second  of  Cleveland's  big  after-thc-war  im- 
provements have  been  announced  by  the  utilities  director  and  the 
water  commissioner,  who  stated  that  ground  for  the  construction  of  a 
$3,500,000  East  Side  filtration  plant  w^ould  be  broken  the  latter  part 
of  this  year ;  and  that  work  on  an  addition  to  the  municipal  lighting 
plant  would  be  started  shortl}^  Both  projects  are  included  in  the 
scheme  of  postwar  improvements,  to  cost  approximately  $20,000,000, 
which  the  mayor  has  planned  in  order  to  furnish  employment  dur- 
ing the  reconstruction  period,  to  men  returning  from  military  service 
or  Avar  work. — [Plain  Dealer,  Cleveland,  Ohio,  Jan.  9,  1919.] 
Beconstruction  Conference. 

The  governor  called  a  State  conference  of  reconstruction  and  com- 
numity  agencies,  which  has  met  monthly  since  ^larch.  The  fourh 
meeting  was  held  on  June  16.  The  membership  comprises  many 
former  members  of  the  State  council  of  defense  and  of  the  State 
division  of  the  AVoman's  Committee.  Agencies  represented  at  meet- 
ings were  State  council  of  defense,  State  division  of  the  Woman's 
Committee,  State  department  of  health,  extension  department  of  the 
State  agricultural  college,  home-economic  department  of  the  State 
university,  State  superintendent  of  public  instruction.  State  con- 
ference of  charities.  War  Camp  Community  Service,  home-service 
section  of  the  American  Red  Cross,  Young  Men's  Christian  Associa- 
tion, Young  Women's  Christian  Association,  National  Catholic  War 
Council,  Jewish  Welfare  Board,  and  Salvation  Army. — [Reply  from 
State  council  of  defense  to  questionnaire  of  the  Field  Division,  U.  S. 
Council  of  National  Defense,  July  26,  1919.] 

Reconstruction  Program. 

The  Columbus  Chamber  of  Commerce  has  proposed  a  reconstruc- 
tion plan  embodying  employment  for  soldiers,  sailors,  and  discharged 
war  workers ;  economic  problems ;  municipal  improvements ;  munici- 
pal government  taxation;  educational  and  social  welfare;  highways 
and  transportation;  industrial  improvements;  retail  and  export 
trade;  publicity  and  advertising;  agricultural  interests;  and  com- 
munity loyalty  and  service.  This  program  of  work  is  the  result  of 
conferences  with  the  leading  business,  professional,  and  wage-earning 
men  of  the  community,  and  the  chamber  of  commerce  is  submitting 


262        UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

it  to  its  members  for  consideration  and  suggestion. — [Publication  of 
the  Columbus  Chamber  of  Commerce,  February,  1919.] 
ilegistration  of  Discharge  Papers. 

County  recorders'  offices  are  registering  soldiers'  discharge  papers 
for  a  fee  of  25  cents. — [Ohio  State  Journal,  Columbus,  Ohio,  Dec.  18, 
1918.] 

Rehabilitation  of  Disabled  Service  Men. 

Canton's  program  for  the  care  of  crippled  and  disabled  soldiers 
will  be  modeled  after  the  plans  suggested  by  the  International  Con- 
ference, in  charge  of  the  American  Red  Cross  Institute  for  after- 
care of  crippled  and  disabled  soldiers,  held  in  New  York  City.  A 
medical  advisory  board  has  already  been  appointed  in  Canton  to  look 
after  the  wounded  soldiers  when  they  return  home. — [News,  Canton, 
Ohio,  Mar.  16,  1919.] 
School  Gardens. 

School  gardens  are  being  conducted  in  69  cities  and  towns,  the  total 
present  enrollment  in  the  State  being  189,660.  In  Cincinnati,  during 
the  fiscal  year  ending  June  30,  1919,  when  11,000  children  were 
enrolled,  the  value  of  the  school-garden  products  amounted  to  $38,000, 
or  $3.45  per  capita. — [Prepared  from  material  furnished  by  U.  S. 
School  Garden  Army  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Nov.  1, 
1919.] 
Vocational  Education. 

The  State  department  of  the  Federal  Board  of  Vocational  Edu- 
cation is  active  in  the  matter  of  making  educational  provisions. — 
[Letter  from  mayor  of  Cincinnati  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  De- 
fense, Mar.  26,  1919.] 
Vocational  Reeducation  of  Disabled  Service  Men. 

In  accordance  with  section  2  of  the  Federal  vocational  rehabili- 
tation act  of  June  27,  1918,  as  amended  July  11,  1919,  arrangements 
had  been  made  up  to  October  25,  1919,  by  the  Federal  Board  for 
Vocational  Education  with  47  educational  institutions  in  the  State 
for  the  reeducation  of  service  men  to  overcome  the  handicap  of 
disabilities  incurred  in  the  service.  A  total  of  669  such  men  have 
been  sent  to  these  institutions  for  training.  Arrangements  have  also 
been  made  by  this  board  with  76  industrial  establishments  in  the 
State  whereby  the  latter  have  undertaken  to  train  a  total  of  126 
disabled  men. — [Compiled  from  statement  prepared  by  Rehabilita- 
tion Division,  Federal  Board  for  Vocational  Education.] 

The  retraining  of  disabled  soldiers  w411  be  conducted  by  Cleveland 
schools.  The  board  of  education  voted  to  accede  to  the  Govern- 
ment's request  to  train  Cleveland's  soldiers  here  instead  of  sending 
them  to  Cincinnati,  the  center  for  three  central  States.  The  board 
has  learned  that  the  State  board  of  education  has  granted  $5,000  for 


OKLAHOMA.  263 

►  —    —    -  — ' 

the  year's  expenses  in  conducting  industrial  classes,  thereby  paying 

60  per  cent  of  the  teachers'  salaries. — [Plain  Dealer,  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
Apr.  15,  1919.] 
Wasteful  Service. 

Thirty  of  the  leading  merchants  of  Columbus  have  entered  into 
an  agreement  to  maintain  permanently  many  of  the  regulations  they 
established  during  the  war  for  cutting  down  unreasonable  and  waste- 
ful service.  These  regulations  affect  deliveries  and  returned  goods. — 
[Public  Ledger,  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  May  26,  1919.] 
Woman's  Committee. 

The  State  chairman  of  the  Woman's  Committee,  United  States 
Council  of  National  Defense,  has  advised  each  county  unit  of  the 
committee  that  the  time  has  come  to  disband  as  a  war  organization. 
Each  county,  how^ever,  before  disbandment,  is  to  provide  for  the 
formation  of  a  county  council  of  child  welfare.  A  permanent  State 
council  of  child  welfare  is  being  organized,  with  a  salaried  secretary, 
to  continue  direction  of  State-wide  work.  One-fifth  of  the  budget 
required  for  the  coming  year  has  been  raised  by  the  woman's  com- 
mittee. The  American  Red  Cross,  War  Camp  Community  Service, 
Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  Young  Women's  Christian  As- 
sociation, and  National  Catholic  War  Council  have  each  agreed  to 
delegate  a  representative  to  serve  on  the  finance  committee  to 
complete  the  raising  of  the  budget.  These  agencies,  together  with 
representatives  of  the  State  department  of  health,  the  board  of  State 
charities,  and  the  schools  will  cooperate  to  form  the  new  State  council 
of  child  welfare,  with  headquarters  at  Columbus. — [Dispatch,  Colum- 
bus, Ohio,  May  25,  1919.] 

OKLAHOMA. 

Americanization. 

A  house  joint  resolution  was  approved  March  10  authorizing  and 
directing  the  public-school  authorities  to  cooperate  with  the  Federal 
Government  in  the  work  of  Americanizing  the  foreign  population 
and  authorizing  the  creation  of  an  Americanization  commission. 
The  public-school  authorities  are  required  to  organize  classes  in 
English  and  in  citizenship  instruction  whenever  petitioned  for  by  10 
adult  residents  of  foreign  birth.  The  Americanization  commission 
created  by  the  resolution  consists  of  the  governor  and  six  members 
to  be  appointed  by  him.  The  commission  sees  to  it  that  the  public- 
school  authorities  and  the  foreigners  are  informed  of  the  resolution 
and  that  its  provisions  are  carried  out. — [Laws  of  Oklahoma,  1919, 
ch.  315.] 
Assistance  for  Service  Men  and  Their  Families. 

An  act,  approved  in  1919,  makes  provision  for  the  burial  of  soldiers, 
sailors,  and  marines  during  service  or  after  honorable  discharge,  and 


264.       UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  KECONSTRUCTION. 

tlieir  wives;  and  Army  nurses  and  their  husbands. — [Information 
Bureau,  American  National  Eed  Cross,  Compendium  Change  No. 
117.] 

"  Back-to-School "  Drive. 

The  "  Back-to-school "  drive  is  being  carried  on  in  a  great  many 
places  in  Oklahoma. — [Letter  from  State  division  of  the  Woman's 
Committee  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Feb.  16,  1919.] 

The  "  Back-to-school "  drive  has  met  with  great  response.  Super- 
intendents realize  the  great  need  of  public  sentiment  in  Oklahoma 
which  will  demand  that  all  children  go  to  school  regularly. — [Report 
of  child  conservation  section  of  the  Field  Division  to  U.  S.  Council 
of  National  Defense,  Oct.  1,  1918,  to  July  1,  1919.] 
Community  Houses. 

An  act  was  passed  by  the  legislature,  approved  March  28,  empower- 
ing cities  of  the  first-class  within  the  State  to  build  convention  halls 
and  community  houses,  or  combinations  of  the  two.  Bonds  may  be 
issued  for  the  purpose  by  any  city  provided  50  per  cent  of  the  voters 
approve  of  the  proposition. — [Laws  of  Oklahoma,  1919,  ch.  292.] 
Community  Organization. 

A  bill  to  establish  an  interdepartmental  bureau  on  conmiunity 
organization,  to  direct  community  councils  of  defense  as  peace  or- 
ganizations, has  been  introduced  in  the  legislature. — [Reply  from 
State  council  of  defense  to  questionnaire  of  the  Field  Division,  U.  S. 
Council  of  National  Defense,  Feb.  14,  1919.] 

A  bill  has  been  introduced  in  the  upper  house  of  the  legislature 
Avhich  provides  for  county  boards  of  public  welfare  to  come  into 
existence  on  July  1,  1919,  for  the  purpose  of  keeping  up  health 
standards  in  schools,  factories,  and  homes,  and  of  watching  over  the 
general  welfare  of  the  community  with  regard  to  truancy  and  non- 
employment.  This  bill  is  an  outgrowth  of  the  work  of  the  State 
council  of  defense  organization. — [Letter  from  State  council  of  de- 
fense to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Feb.  25,  1919!] 
Council  of  Defense. 

Count}^  councils  of  defense  were  advised  by  the  State  council  of 
defense  to  give  attention  to  the  following  specific  activities  and  to 
such  additional  ones  as  they  may  be  charged  with:  Provide  free 
legal  attention  for  all  returning  soldiers  by  making  use  of  the  legal 
advisory  boards;  cooperate  with  the  Federal  labor  department  in 
providing  jobs  for  returned  soldiers;  aid  in  the  sale  of  Government 
securities ;  see  that  the  gambling  and  liquor  laws  are  enforced ;  con- 
tinue campaign  for  increased  production  of  food;  see  that  the  com- 
pulsory school  laws  be  enforced;  and  give  every  cooperation  to  the 
American  Red  Cross,  Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  Knights 
of  Cohimbus,  Salvation  Army,  and  other  like  organizations  dealing 


OKLAHOMA.  265 

I 

with  the  welfare  of  American  soldiers. — [Bulletin,  Sooners  in  the 
AVar,  State  council  of  defense,  Oklahoma  City,  Okla.,  Dec.  18,  1918.] 
The  State  council  of  defense  will  continue  to  give  legal  aid  to 
discharged  men  and  maintain  four  employment  bureaus  for  soldiers 
and  sailors. — [Reply  from  State  council  of  defense  to  questionnaire 
of  the  Field  Division,  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  July  7, 
1919.] 

Demobilization  Committees. 

The  State  council  of  defense  in  dissolving  the  county  councils 
January  15,  provided  for  the  appointment  in  each  county  of  a 
c'emobilization  committee.  The  duty  of  these  committees  will  be  to 
attend  to  all  matters  affecting  the  interests  of  the  returning  soldiers. — 
[Report  of  State  council  of  defense,  May,  1918,  to  January,  1919.] 
Employment. 

Matters  pertaining  to  returned  soldiers,  especially  employment  for 
them,  are  being  handled  by  the  Tulsa  Soldiers'  and  Sailors'  Coun- 
cil, wliich  is  composed  of  representatives  of  the  several  organiza- 
tions that  were  active  in  war  work. — [Letter  from  chairman,  Tulsa 
County  council  of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
Apr.  26,  1919.] 

Employment  offices  maintained  in  Oklahoma  by  the  Federal  Gov- 
ernment in  cooperation  with  State  and  local  organizations,  report 
that  during  the  six  months'  period  January  1  to  June  30,  1919, 
23,106  persons  were  registered  who  were  seeking  employment ;  23,802 
requests  for  employees  were  received ;  and  16,839  persons  were  placed 
by  these  offices. — [Compiled  from  statistics  furnished  by  U.  S.  Em- 
ployment Service,  Aug.  8,  1919.] 

Citations  have  been  issued  by  the  United  States  War  and  Navy  De- 
partments to  373  firms  in  the  State,  these  employers  having  assured 
the  departments  that  they  will  reemploy  every  returned  service 
man  who  formerly  worked  for  them  and  left  to  serve  in  the  Army 
or  Navy  during  the  World  War. — [Memorandum  from  assistant  to 
Secretary  of  War  in  the  replacement  of  service  men  to  civil  life,  to 
U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Nov.  20,  1919.] 
English  Language  in  Schools. 

An  act  was  passed  by  the  legislature  (H.  80)  providing  for  the 
teaching  of  English  exclusively  in  schools  up  to  and  including  the 
eighth  grade.    The  act  carries  a  penalty  of  from  $10  to  $100  for  each 
violation  thereof. —  [Laws  of  Oklahoma,  1919,  ch.  141.] 
Farm  and  Industrial  Council. 

A  law  was  passed  March  22  creating  a  State  farm  and  indus- 
trial council,  to  consist  of  delegates  elected  from  the  farm  and 
industrial  council  of  each  county,  as  well  as  from  organized  agricul- 
tural, educational,  and  industrial  associations,  to  organize  county  and 
community  councils;  federate  organizations  established  for  mutual 


266        Ul^ITED^  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTIOIT. 

help;  promote  agricultural  and  industrial  enterprises,  good  roads, 
community  buildings,  and  cooperation  in  marketing ;  and  to  carry  on 
projects  of  State  and  Federal  interests. — [Laws  of  Oklahoma,  1919, 
ch.  91.] 

Food  Control. 

A  bill  (H.  233)  was  introduced  in  the  legislature,  but  failed  to 
pass,  which  proposed  to  operate  a  food  commission  with  power  to 
regulate  the  wholesale  and  retail  prices  of  food.  The  commission  may 
examine  books,  require  statements  from  dealers,  etc. — [Nation;il 
Wholesale  Grocers'  Association  Bulletin,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  March, 
1919.] 
High  Cost  of  Living. 

The  governor  has  sent  delegates  to  all  county  attorneys  in  the  State 
asking  them  to  meet  in  Oklahoma  City  to  consider  steps  toward 
reducing  the  high  cost  of  living  in   the   State. — [Public  Ledger, 
Philadelphia,  Pa.,  Aug.  6,  1919.] 
Highways. 

A  bill  was  passed  in  the  legislature  March  25  providing  for  the 
issue  of  $50,000,000  in  bonds  for  the  building  of  hard-surfaced  roads. 
This  measure  was  submitted  to  the  voters  May  6  and  was  defeated. — 
[Laws  of  Oklahoma,  1919.] 

On  October  1,  1919,  16  highway  projects  had  been  approved  in  the 
State,  involving  the  improvement  of  158.62  miles  of  road  at  a  total 
estimated  cost  of  $3,563,708.50,  of  which  the  Federal  Government  is 
requested  to  pay  $1,675,722.39,  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of 
the  Federal-aid  road  act  of  July  11,  1916,  as  amended  by  the  act 
of  February  28,  1919. — [Statement  prepared  by  Bureau  of  Public 
Eoads,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture.] 

Information  Service  for  Returned  Service  Men. 

The  local  branches  of  the  American  Red  Cross  are  cooperating 
with  other  organizations  in  establishing  contacts  with  service  men 
for  the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  adjustment  of  their  allotments, 
allowance  accounts,  compensation  and  claims,  and  the  reinstatement 
of  lapsed  or  canceled  insurance.  It  is  the  desire  of  the  Bureau  of 
War  Risk  Insurance  that  all  inquiries  of  this  nature  be  cleared 
through  the  home-service  sections  of  the  American  Red  Cross.  Up 
to  April  1, 1919,  the  American  Red  Cross  had  organized  in  Oklahoma 
356  units  with  a  total  of  332  workers.^ [Statement  prepared  by 
American  National  Red  Cross  for  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
November,  1919.] 
Land  Settlement. 

A  bill  was  introduced  in  the  legislature  providing  for  soldier  set- . 
tlements  in  cooperation  with  the  Federal  Government,  but  action 
on  it  has  been  deferred  awaiting  action  by  Congress. 


OREGON,  267 

i 

The  legislature  passed  the  home  ownership  bill  under  which  the 
8cate  can  loan  to  men  who  desire  to  go  on  the  land  and  make  their 
Lome,  practically  all  of  the  purchase  price  of  the  land. 

The  home  loan  fund  bill,  appropriating  $250,000,  was  approved 
l>y  the  governor  March  28.  The  governor  has  appointed  a  comiuit- 
tee  to  handle  soldier-settlement  matters  for  the  State. — [Laws  of 
Oklahoma,  1919,  ch.  194.] 

Public  Works. 

Reports  received  in  January,  1919,  cover  58  public  building  and 
construction  projects  which  were  under  way  or  contemplated  in  the 
State,  aggregating  an  estimated  value  of  $6,510,000.  Of  this  number 
19  were  waterworks,  estimated  to  cost  $2,310,000;  IT  were  street  im- 
provements, estimated  to  cost  $1,160,000;  and  4  were  schools,  esti- 
mated to  cost  $1,350,000. — [Statistics  compiled  by  Division  of  Public 
Works  and  Construction  Developments,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor,  Apr. 
17,1919.] 
School  Gardens. 

School  gardens  are  being  conducted  in  192  cities  and  towns,  the 
total  present  enrollment  in  the  State  being  105,784.  In  Oklahoma 
City  during  the  fiscal  year  ending  June  30,  1919,  there  were  12,000 
children  enrolled. — [Prepared  from  material  furnished  by  U.  S. 
School  Garden  Army  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Nov. 
1,  1919.] 
Vocational  Reeducation  of  Disabled  Service  Men. 

In  accordance  with  section  2  of  the  Federal  vocational  rehabili- 
tation act  of  June  27,  1918,  as  amended  July  11,  1919,  arrangements 
had  been  made  up  to  October  25,  1919,  by  the  Federal  Board  for 
Vocational  Education  with  seven  educational  institutions  in  the 
State  for  the  reeducation  of  service  men  to  overcome  the  handicap 
of  disabilities  incurred  in  the  service.  A  total  of  90  such  men  have 
been  sent  to  these  institutions  for  training.  Arrangements  have  also 
been  made  by  this  board  with  three  industrial  establishments  in  the 
State  whereby  the  latter  have  undertaken  to  train  three  disabled 
men. — [Compiled  from  statement  prepared  by  Rehabilitation  Divi- 
sion, Federal  Board  for  Vocational  Education.] 

OREGON. 

Assistance  for  Service  Men  and  Their  Families. 

The  delegation  appointed  by  the  Washington  Legislature,  to  con- 
fer with  the  legislatures  of  several  adjoining  States,  for  the  purpose 
of  coordinating  legislation  by  which  the  various  commissions  ap- 
pointed to  expend  State  funds  for  the  relief  of  soldiers  will  be  inter- 
locked and  interrelated,  met  with  the  governor's  soldiers'  commission 
and  went  over  the  situation. — [Oregonian,  Portland,  Oreg.,  Feb.  4:^ 
1919.] 


268       UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

Of  the  $100,000  emergency  fund  appropriated  by  the  legislatvu^e 
for  the  immediate  relief  of  returning  soldiers  and  sailors,  $5,000  is 
to  be  used  in  New  York  City  for  helping  the  men  landing  there  from 
overseas  on  their  way  to  Oregon. — [General  Laws  of  Oregon,  1919, 
ch.  177.] 

The  legislature  has  provided  a  relief  fund  of  $100,000  for  the  benefit 
of  returning  soldiers,  sailors,  and  marines,  to  be  disbursed  by  a  com- 
mission.— [General  Laws  of  Oregon,  1919,  ch.  177.] 

The  American  Red  Cross  is  extending  medical,  legal,  family,  and 
other  aid  to  returned  soldiers.  Emergency  relief  is  given  in  the  form 
of  transportation,  food,  clothing,  etc.,  where  needed. — [Telegram 
from  acting  mayor  of  Portland  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
Mar.  25,  1919.] 

According  to  a  detailed  report  of  the  activities  of  the  soldiers' 
and  sailors'  commission  submitted  to  the  governor,  up  to  April  5 
the  commission  had  expended  none  of  the  $100,000  appropriated  by 
the  last  legislature  for  the  relief  of  soldiers  and  sailors,  except  the 
$5,000  which  the  legislature  directed  should  be  sent  to  the  welcoming 
committee  at  New  York  City,  because  of  the  difficulty  the  commis- 
sion is  having  in  getting  the  money  into  bankable  form.  The  report 
states  that  the  commission  has  found  but  little  need  for  furnishinir 
relief  to  returning  soldiers  and  sailors,  except  to  assist  in  defraying 
the  expenses  of  Federal  employment  agencies  which  are  without 
funds  because  of  the  failure  of  Congress  to  make  the  necessary  ap- 
propriation. All  direct  relief  work  is  being  left  to  the  home-service 
section  of  the  American  Eed  Cross,  which  has  asked  the  commission 
not  to  invade  its  field  without  being  requested  to  do  so.  The  com- 
mission is  financing  the  Federal  employment  office  in  Portland  up  to 
$800  a  month.— [General  Laws  of  Oregon,  19.19,  ch.  177.] 
♦'  Back-to-School "  Drive. 

The  "  Back-to-school "  drive  was  carried  on  with  the  cooperation 
of  teachers  and  superintendents.  A  State-wide  survey  of  children 
out  of  school  w^as  carefully  carried  out.  Eeports  indicate  that  a 
thorough  "round-up"  of  children  has  been  made. — [Eeport  of  child 
conservation  section  of  the  Field  Division  to  U.  S.  Council  of  Na- 
tional Defense,  Oct.  1, 1918,  to  July  1,  1919.] 
Building  Activity. 

The  municipality  of  Portland  will  engage  in  the  construction  of 
5,000  houses  at  once  as  a  means  of  absorbing  surplus  labor  and  utiliz- 
ing some  of  the  immense  lumber  supply  of  the  State. — [Tribune, 
Chicago,  111.,  July  6,  1919.] 
Council  of  Defense. 

The  State  council  of  defense  is  still  retained  as  a  voluntary  or- 
ganization subject  to  the  call  of  the  chairman.  It  is  at  present  inac- 
tive.    County  councils  still  exist.     No  attempt  has  been  made  to 


OEEGOiT.  269 

place  community  councils  on  a  permanent  basis.  County  councils  in 
some  cases  are  giving  assistance  in  the  establishment  of  employment 
bureaus  for  soldiers,  providing  them  free  legal  aid,  and  apprehend- 
ing deserters  under  the  local  office  of  the  United  States  Secret  Serv- 
ice.— [Reply  from  State  council  of  defense  to  questionnaire  of  the 
Field  Division,  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  June  30,  1919.] 
Education  of  Returned  Service  Men. 

The  question  of  establishing  special  courses  to  take  care  of  sol- 
diers who  may  wish  to  complete  their  high-school  work  is  to  be 
considered  by  the  school  board  of  Portland. — [Journal,  Portland, 
Oreg.,  Feb.  5,  1919.] 

The  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  is  oifering  a  50  per  cent 
discount  in  its  educational  department,  for  three  months,  to  dis- 
charged service  men. — [Telegram  from  War  Camp  Community .  Serv- 
ice, Portland,  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  March  25,  1919.] 

The  legislative  assembly  passed  a  bill  which  was  submitted  to, 
and  approved  by,  the  people  of  the  State  at  the  special  election  on 
June  3,  providing  State  aid  for  soldiers  who  desire  to  receive  an 
education.  The  bill  jirovides  that  honorably  discharged  soldiers, 
sailors,  and  marines,  enlisted  or  inducted  into  the  service  from  Ore- 
gon, may  attend  any  institution  of  learning,  public  or  private,  in  the 
State  and  have  their  necessary  expenses,  not  exceeding  $25  per  month 
nor  $200  per  year,  paid  by  the  Statae  for  four  years,  levying  a  A-mill 
State  tax  to  provide  funds  for  this  purpose. — [General  Laws  of 
Oregon,  1919,  ch.  248.] 
Employment. 

The  Federal  employment  service  is  performing  excellent  work, 
thousands  of  men  having  been  placed.  Every  effort  is  being  made 
by  employers  to  cooperate  with  the  Federal  officials.  The  chairman 
of  the  State  council  of  defense  is  also  chairman  of  the  local  em- 
ployment committee,  and  in  connection  with  the  business  men,  heads 
of  industrial  plants,  and  other  employers  of  Portland,  is  holding 
regular  meetings  with  the  Federal  employment  agent  and  liis  as- 
sistants, endeavoring  to  formulate  plans  and  put  into  effect  all 
measures  which  have  for  their  purpose  the  lessening  of  the  unem- 
ployment problem. — [Letter  from  chairman,  State  council  of  de- 
fense to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Jan.  29,  1919.] 

At  a  meeting  of  the  labor  committee,  which  was  held  in  the 
offices  of  the  employment  bureau,  it  was  definitely  decided  that 
every  effort  should  be  brought  to  bear  to  induce  officials  of  the  city, 
county,  docks,  and  other  Government  and  private  bodies,  to  take 
action  at  once  looking  toward  the  immediate  resumption  of  all 
improvements  previously  ordered.  To  a  committee  of  16  repre- 
sentative citizens  vras  delegated  the  task  of  meeting  and  conferring 


270       UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  KECONSTRUCTION. 

with  these  officials  and  taking  steps  toward  bringing  about  employ, 
nient  for  thousands  of  men.  The  State  council  of  defense  as- 
sures the  United  States  Council  of  National  Defense  that  there 
will  be  no  cessation  of  t^asks  lying  within  its  province. — [Letter 
from  chairman  State  council  of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of  Na- 
tional Defense,  Feb.  8,  1919.] 

The  matter  of  finding  employment  for  returning  soldiers  is  having 
the  attention  of  the  governoi'.  For  some  months  committees  have 
been  working  in  the  State  assisting  returning  soldiers,  sailors,  and 
marines  in  securing  employment,  and  Oregon  will  give  the  matter 
thought  and  attention  at  all  times. — [Letter  from  the  governor's 
secretary  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  19,  1919.] 

At  the  opening  of  the  Oregon  Club  for  Soldiers  and  Sailors  in 
New  York  City,  the  mayor  of  Portland  explained  the  Oregon  plan 
for  getting  discharged  soldiers  back  into  their  old  jobs.  Every  em- 
ployer who  hung  out  a  service  flag  is  urged  to  take  back  a  man  for 
each  star  displayed.  Public  sentiment  backs  this  campaign  strongly 
and  practically  all  employers  are  holding  up  to  the  Oregon  ideal. 
A  large  committee  is  at  work  throughout  the  State  with  tlie  fund  of 
$100,000  to  be  used  in  assisting  soldiers  to  obtain  employment. — 
[Evening  Sun,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Mar.  20,  1919.] 

Organized  effort  is  being  made  to  solve  the  unemployment  prob- 
lem in  Oregon,  and  substantial  progress  has  appeared,  according  to 
a  statement  issued  by  the  chairman  of  the  joint  committee  on  employ- 
ment of  the  State  council  of  defense  and  the  chamber  of  commerce. 
While  latest  estimates  place  the  number  of  unemployed  men  in  Port- 
land alone  at  12,000,  definite  plans  are  under  w^ay  whereby  the  greater 
number  of  these  men  will  be  placed  at  profitable  work.  With  $10,- 
000,000  directly  appropriated  by  the  legislature  for  road  purposes 
and  with  receipts  from  automobile  licenses,  road  taxes,  and  special 
appropriations  bringing  this  sum  to  $23,000,000,  to  be  expended  on 
roads  in  the  State  within  the  next  two  years,  employment  for  a  large 
number  of  men  is  assured.  The  Portland  school  board  and  the 
Portland  dock  commission  have  extensive  plans  for  improve- 
ments.— [Christian  Science  Monitor,  Boston,  Mass.,  Mar.  25,  1919.] 

Employment  offices  maintained  in  Oregon  by  the  Federal  Govern- 
ijent  in  cooperation  with  State  and  local  organizations  report  that 
daring  the  six  months'  period  January  1  to  June  30,  1919,  82,399 
persons  were  registered  who  were  seeking  employment;  77,223  re- 
quests for  employees  were  received;  and  56,498  persons  were  placed 
by  these  offices. — [Compiled  from  statistics  furnished  by  U.  S.  Em- 
ployment Service,  Aug.  8,  1919.] 

Citations  have  been  issued  by  the  United  States  War  and  Navy 
Departments  to  724  firms  in  the  State,  these  employers  having  assured 


OREGON.  271 

the  departments  that  they  will  reemploy  every  returned  service  man 
who  formerly  worked  for  them  and  left  to  serve  in  the  Army  or  Navy 
during  the  World  War. — [Memorandum  from  assistant  to  Secretary 
of  War  in  the  replacement  of  service  men  to  civil  life,  to  U.  S. 
Council  of  National  Defense,  Nov.  20,  1919.] 

Of  the  30,000  soldiers  who  are  expected  to  return  to  the  State, 
15,000,  it  is  estimated,  will  come  to  Portland  in  search  of  jobs.  It 
is  thought  that  5,000  returned  soldiers  can  be  given  work  in  Portland, 
but  what  to  do  with  the  rest  will  constitute  the  most  serious  labor 
problem  the  city  has  ever  faced.  A  special  committee  is  working 
on  a  program  for  meeting  the  situation  which  will  be  presented  at 
the  reconstruction  convention.  Employers  will  be  asked  to  return 
men  to  their  former  jobs  and  to  provide  new  positions  for  others. 
Business  men  will  be  asked  to  stai-t  new  industries.  State  and  vari- 
ous county  and  municipal  governments  will  be  requested  to  launch 
a  campaign  of  public  works  until  private  industries  are  able  to  ab- 
sorb the  labor  in  this  State.  The  question  of  wages  will  also  be  con- 
sidered in  detail. — [Telegram,  Portland,  Oreg.,  Jan.  4,  1919.] 

Keturned  soldiers  are  being  given  employment  in  Portland  both 
through  the  civil-service  board  and  through  efforts  of  big  firms  in  the 
city.    It  is  said  that  little  difficulty  is  being  experienced  in  placing 
the  men  thus  far.— [Telegram,  Portland,  Oreg.,  Feb.  20,  1919.] 
Foreign  languages  in  Schools. 

There  has  been  passed  by  the  legislature  an  act,  approved  February 
7,  making  it  unlawful  to  use  any  language  other  than  the  Englisli 
language  in  the  public  or  private  schools  of  the  State,  except  for  the 
purpose  of  instruction  in  teaching  a  foreign  language.  The  penalty 
for  a  violation  of  the  act  ranges  from  $100  to  $1,000. — [General 
Laws  of  Oregon,  1919,  ch.  19.] 
Highways. 

The  fund  available  for  road  construction  during  1919  was  said  at 
the  beginning  of  the  year  to  amount  to  about  $6,000,000. — [Good 
Eoads,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  4,  1919.] 

The  secretar}^  of  the  State  highway  commission  advises  that  a 
bonding  act  appropriating  $10,000,000  for  highway  improvements 
])assed  the  last  legislature  recently  adjourned,  with  an  emergency 
clause  attached  which  makes  the  money  immediately  available. 
State  taxes  will  increase  the  road  fund  by  a  large  additional  amount. 
In  addition,  about  10  counties  are  planning  bond  issues  up  to  their 
legal  limit,  which  will  probably  produce  about  $5,000,000  more. — 
[Bulletin  No.  48,  Highways  Transport  Committee,  U.  S.  Council  of 
National  Defense.] 

A  joint  resolution  adopted  by  the  legislature  of  the  State  and  ap- 
proved by  the  electors  June  3,  provides  for  the  amendment  of 


272       UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

Article  XI,  section  10,  of  the  State  constitution,  so  that :  "  ^  o  county 
shall  create  any  debts  or  liabilities  which  shall  singly  or  in  the 
ag-gregate,  with  previous  debts  or  liabilities,  exceed  the  sum  of  $5,000, 
except  to  suppress  insurrection  or  repel  invasion  or  to  build  or  main- 
tain permanent  roads  within  the  county;  and  debts  for  permanent 
roads  shall  be  incurred  only  on  approval  of  a  majority  of  those  vot- 
ing on  the  question,  and  shall  not  either  singly  or  in  the  aggregate, 
with  previous  debts  and  liabilities  incurred  for  that  purpose,  exceed 
6  per  cent  of  the  assessed  valuation  of  all  the  property  in  the  county." 
This  will  enable  counties  to  enlarge  their  road  construction  programs. 

The  last  session  of  the  State  legislature  passed  a  bill  which  was 
submitted  to  and  approved  by  the  electors  of  the  State  authorizing 
the  issue  of  bonds  to  the  amount  of  $2,500,000  for  the  purpose  of 
constructing  the  Roosevelt  Highway  along  the  coast  of  Oregon,  upon 
the  condition  that  the  Federal  Government  appropriates  an  equal 
amount  for  the  same  purpose.  This  is  in  addition  to  the  $10,000,000 
bond  issue  mentioned  above.  If  the  Federal  Government  appro- 
priates a  like  amount  for  this  purpose,  it  will  give  to  the  State  all  the 
advantages  of  this  road  at  a  cost  of  50  cents  on  the  dollar. 

The  State  legislature  joassed  a  bill  (General  Laws  of  Oregon,  1919, 
ch.  431),  which  was  submitted  to  and  approved  by  the  electors  at 
the  special  election  held  on  June  3,  providing  for  the  improvement 
of  market  roads  by  levying  annually  a  tax  of  1  mill  on  the  dollar  on 
all  taxable  property  in  the  State.  The  construction  of  these  State 
market  roads  will  be  under  the  supervision  and  control  of  county 
courts,  which  would  be  authorized  to  levy  a  property  tax  in  each 
county  for  construction  of  market  roads  in  an  amount  equal  to  the 
sum  apportioned  to  such  county  in  thfe  bill."  The  bill  provides  that 
all  plans  and  specifications  for  market-road  construction  shall  be  fur- 
nished by  the  State  highway  commission  in  order  to  secure  uniform 
road  construction.  The  act  will  virtually  compel  every  county  to 
improve  its  market  roads  or  be  taxed  annually  for  the  benefit  of 
counties  that  are  willing  to  make  such  needed  improvements.— 
[Pamphlet,  Constitutional  Amendments  and  Measures  to  be  Sub- 
mitted to  the  Voters  of  Oregon,  Special  Election,  June  3,  1919; 
subsequent  information  from  office  of  Representative  Hawley  of 
Oregon,  July  3,  1919.] 

On  October  1,  1919,  19  highway  projects  had  been  approved  in  the 
State,  involving  the  improvement  of  204.59  miles  of  road  at  a  total 
estimated  cost  of  $2,737,757.82,  of  which  the  Federal  Government 
is  requested  to  pay  $1,213,155.74  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of 
the  Federal-aid  road  act  of  July  11,  1916,  as  amended  by  the  act 
of  February  28,  1919. —  [Statement  prepared  by  Bureau  of  Public 
Roads,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture.] 


OEEGOJST.  273 

Homes  for  Returned  Service  Men. 

The  location  of  homes  for  returning  soldiers,  sailors,  and  marines, 
and  for  the  general  public  as  well,  will  be  the  duty  of  the  United 
States  Homes  Kegistration  service  committee,  authorized  in  an  ordi- 
nance drafted  by  the  mayor  and  city  commissioner  of  Portland, 
which  will  be  presented  to  the  city  council.  This  committee  will 
handle  work  which  the  Government  deems  important  in  the  general 
reconstruction  program. — [Oregonian,  Portland,  Oreg.,  Feb.  11, 
1919.] 
Information  Service  for  Returned  Service  Men. 

The  local  branches  of  the  American  Red  Cross  are  cooperating 
with  other  organizations  in  establishing  contacts  with  service  men 
for  the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  adjustment  of  their  allotments, 
allowances  accounts,  compensation  and  claims,  and  the  reinstatement 
of  lapsed  or  canceled  insurance.  It  is  the  desire  of  the  Bureau  of 
War  Risk  Insurance  that  all  inquiries  of  this  nature  be  cleared 
through  the  home-service  sections  of  the  American  Red  Cross.  Up 
to  April  1,  1919,  the  American  Red  Cross  had  organized  in  Oregon 
81  units  with  a  total  of  191  workers. — [Statement  prepared  by 
American  National  Red  Cross  for  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
November,  1919.] 
Land  Reclamation. 

The  electors  of  the  State  at  the  special  election  held  June  3, 
enacted  into  law  a  proposed  constitutional  amendment  submitted  to 
them,  providing  for  the  payment  by  the  State  of  irrigation  and 
drainage  district  bond  interest  for  five  years  by  issuing  State  bonds, 
and  for  repayment  of  the  money  with  interest  to  the  State  by  such 
districts  six  months  after  maturity  of  such  district  bonds,  on  con- 
dition that  the  districts  are  found  on  examination  by  a  State  com- 
mission to  comply  with  the  required  conditions.  A  careful  survey 
of  the  agricultural  lands  of  the  State  not  as  yet  developed  proves 
that  there  are  7,000,000  acres  which  it  is  feasible  and  practicable  to 
drain  and  irrigate.  This  land  now  has  an  assessed  valuation  of  $1.25 
to  $10  per  acre  and  produces  nothing  of  appreciable  value.  If  these 
lands  were  reclaimed,  they  would  then  have  an  assessed  valuation 
of  from  $40  to  $100  per  acre  and  would  add  75  per  cent  to  the  agri- 
cultural production  of  the  State.  In  development  of  new  lands  the 
most  critical  period  is  the  time  between  the  issuance  of  the  bonds 
and  the  harvesting  of  the  first  crop,  and  although  Oregon's  irriga- 
tion districts  have  never  defaulted  in  the  payment  of  the  interest 
during  these  periods,  still  bond  brokers  use  this  situation  as  an  argu- 
ment to  discount  the  securities,  and  have  always  held  out  of  the 
principal  a  discount  sufficiently  large  to  insure  the  payment  of  this 
interest  for  the  first  year.  This  results  in  discounting  the  bonds 
134286°— 20 18 


274        UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT   AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

approximately  10  per  cent,  notwithstaiiding  that  the  bonds  draw  6 
per  cent  interest  and  are  a  very  desirable  investnient.  This  high 
rate  of  interest  and  the  added  discount  take  such  a  toll  from  the 
principal  that  it  is  discouraging  to  the  farmers;  and  they  hesitate 
to  continue  with  the  improvement  of  their  lands.  The  amendment 
permits  the  State  to  guarantee  the  payment  of  this  interest,  thus 
removing  any  arguments  that  the  investor  might  have  which  would 
tend  to  depreciate  the  value  of  the  bonds,  and  will  result  in  the 
selling  of  4-J  and  5  per  cent  bonds  at  par,  or,  perhaps,  at  a  i^remium. 
In  all  projects  under  this  measure  where  the  State  agrees  to  lend  its 
assistance,  the  State  also  enters  into  a  contract  with  the  large  holders 
of  land,  fixing  the  maximum  price  at  which  these  lands  can  be  sold 
after  they  have  been  reclaimed  by  irrigation  or  drainage.  This 
feature  of  the  law  prevents  the  large  landowners  from  doubling  the 
price  of  their  lands  just  after  they  have  been  made  valuable  by  the 
joint  cooperation  of  their  neighbors  and  the  State.  All  these  lands 
which  are  included  within  these  contracts  provide  that  honorably 
discharged  soldiers,  sailors,  marines,  and  American  Ked  Cross  nurses 
shall  have  a  preference  in  the  purchase  thereof.  Thus  the  veterans 
of  the  Great  War  will  have  first  chance  of  securing  prosperous  farm 
homes,  and  land  speculation  and  the  land  sharks  will  be  eliminated. — 
[Pamphlet,  Constitutional  Amendments  and  Measures  to  be  Sub- 
mitted to  the  Voters  of  Oregon,  Special  Election,  June  3, '1919; 
subsequent  information  from  office  of  Eepresentative  Hawley  of 
Oregon,  July  3,  1919.] 
Land  Settlement. 

The  chairman  of  the  senate  reconstruction  committee  has  an- 
nounced that  he  will  immediately  call  a  meeting  of  the  State  commit- 
tee and  will  seek  a  joint  session  w^ith  the  house  reconstruction  com- 
mittee to  consider  a  measure  providing  for  the  creation  of  a  com- 
mission of  five  members  to  be  appointed  by  the  governor.  It  will 
cany  an  appropriation  of  $250,000.  The  duties  of  the  commission 
will  be  to  purchase  suitable  land  for  developing  farms  for  soldiers,  to 
be  cultivated  and  stocked  under  direction  of  the  Oregon  Agricultural 
College.  These  farms  are  to  be  sold  to  the  soldiers  on  a  20  to  40 
year  payment  plan. — [Oregon  Journal,  Portland,  Oreg.,  Feb.  3, 
1919.] 

The  legislature  enacted  a  law,  approved  March  4,  providing  for 
cooperation  with  the  Federal  Government  in  soldier  settlements,  cre- 
ating the  Oregon  Land  Settlement  Commission,  and  making  an  ap- 
propriation of  $50,000.— [General  Law^s  of  Oregon,  1919,  ch.  303.] 

The  legislature  enacted  a  bill  (S.  266)  March  4  referring  to  the 
people  at  a  special  election  to  be  held  June  3,  the  question  of  au- 
thorizing the  sale  of  bonds  in  the  amount  of  $2,647,000  for  soldier 


OKEGOISF.  275 

settlement  and  general  reclamation  in  cooperation  with  the  Federal 
Government.  Failed  to  carry » — [Memorandum  from  Reclamation 
Service,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  the  Interior,  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  De- 
fense, July  1,  1919.] 

Preference  to  Service  Men  in  Land  Entries. 

Soldiers  are  given  a  preference  right  of  entry  upon  reclaimed 
desert  lands  in  the  State  by  an  act  of  the  legislature. — [General  Laws 
of  Oregon,  1919,  ch.  S98.]' 

Preference  to  Service  Men  in  Public  Employment. 

The  legislature  has  passed  a  resolution  providing  that  discliarged 
service  men  shall  have  employment  preference  on  all  public  works. — • 
[The  Home  Sector,  New  York,  N.  Y.] 

Public  Works. 

There  was  referred  to  the  people  at  the  June  election,  an  act  pro- 
viding for  a  $5,000,000  bond  issue,  $2,352,500  was  to  be  used  for  con- 
struction Avork  to  meet  the  unemployment  situation,  but  the  measure 
was  defeated. —  [Oregon  Voter,  Portland,  Oreg.,  May  31,  1919.] 

Reports  received  in  January,  1919,  cover  21  public  building  and 
construction  projects  which  were  under  way  or  contemplated  in  the 
State,  aggregating  an  estimated  value  of  $6,130,000.  Of  this  number 
7  were  street  improvements,  estimated  to  cost  $1,840,000;  3  wer^ 
waterworks,  estimated  to  cost  $1,110,000;  and  2  were  hospitals, 
estimated  to  cost  $210,000. — [Statistics  compiled  by  Division  of 
Public  Works  and  Construction  Developments,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor, 
Apr.  IT,  1919.] 

The  Portland  school  board  may  aid  the  general  reconstruction 
enterprise  of  the  State  with  a  bond  issue  of  $3,000,000,  which  will  be 
used  for  the  construction  of  one  or  more  new  high  schools  and  the 
construction  of  additional  grade  schools,  but  not  for  the  acquisition 
of  liigh-priced  sites.  The  purpose  of  the  board  will  be  to  undertake 
work  which  will  furnish  as  much  employment  as  possible  to  re- 
turned soldiers  and  to  men  displaced  by  the  returned  soldiers  who 
have  been  given  their  former  positions. — [Oregon  Journal,  Port- 
land, Oreg.,  Feb.  19,  1919.] 
Eeecnstriiction  Commission. 

Permanent  organization  of  the  State  reconstruction  commission 
as  authorized  by  the  recent  State  reconstruction  congress,  has  been 
(ii'ected.  Plans  will  immediately  be  started  for  State  aid  in  provid- 
ing work  for  returned  soldiers  and  to  relieve  general  unemployment 
conditions.  All  branches  of  industry  will  be  asked  to  cooperate  to 
the  fullest  extent  by  resumption  of  business  on  a  peace  basis  and  by 
the  establishment  of  new  industries.  There  will  be  100  members  of 
the  commission,  representative  of  all  civic,  political,  commercial,  in- 


276       UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

dustrial,  and  labor  organizations  of  the  State,  and  one  representa- 
tive from  each  county.  Among  special  committees  to  be  named  by 
the  chairman  of  the  commission  are :  Executive,  Federal  legislation, 
State  legislation,  finance,  employment,  assignment,  procuring  em- 
ployment, publicity,  and  a  committee  to  supervise  State  commit- 
tees.— [Telegram,  Portland,  Oreg.,  Jan.  18,  1919.] 

Settlement  of  the  reconstruction  problems  by  the  people  and 
through  a  special  commission  of  15  members  who  are  to  make  selec- 
tions from  the  numerous  programs  for  reconstruction  which  have 
come  in  from  every  side,  is  the  plan  contained  in  a  bill  introduced 
in  the  State  legislature.  As  a  companion  bill,  provision  is  made  in 
another  measure  providing  for  a  special  election  to  be  held  in  Octo- 
ber, at  which  time  whatever  legislation  has  come  from  the  hands  of 
the  reconstruction  commission  and  what  other  legislation  is  referred 
to  the  people  by  the  legislative  assembly,  will  be  passed  upon  by  the 
electorate.  The  reconstruction  commission  will  include  seven  mem- 
bers to  be  selected  by  the  governor  as  representatives  of  the  people 
of  the  State,  and  the  other  eight  members  are  to  be  appointed  by  the 
governor  from  names  submitted  to  him  by  the  following  organiza- 
tions: State  federation  of  labor,  State  chamber  of  commerce,  State 
grange,  woman's  legislative  council.  State  bankers'  association, 
farmers'  union.  State  irrigation  congress,  and  State  bureau  of 
mines.  The  commission  will  be  given  $5,000  with  which  to  pay  its 
expenses,  and  the  special  election  bill  carries  an  appropriation  of 
$15,000  to  pay  for  the  expenses  of  such  election. — [Oregonian,  Port- 
land, Oreg.,  Feb.  4,  1919.] 

Following  the  plan  to  create  a  reconstruction  commission  to  pro- 
vide employment  for  returned  soldiers,  a  movement  came  before 
the  State  house  February  8  to  take  the  selection  of  the  commission- 
ers from  the  hands  of  the  governor.  The  reconstruction  bill,  backed 
by  the  governor  and  senate  and  house  organizations,  provides  for 
15  commissioners,  7  to  be  nominated  by  various  agencies  and  8 
to  be  picked  by  the  governor.  The  house  members  expressed  a 
determination  to  have  the  legislature  select  and  name  the  15  mem- 
bers. Many  projects — road  building,  irrigation,  drainage,  land  set- 
tlement, etc. — are  planned,  which  will  cost  millions  of  dollars  and 
which  will  give  employment  over  a  long  period. — [Oregonian,  Port- 
land, Oreg.,  Feb.  8,  1919.] 

Various  members  of  the  legislature  believe  that  it  should  adjourn 
until  reconstruction  plans  are  formed.  A  special  session  is  disap- 
proved by  these  members  until  the  reconstruction  commission  has 
formulated  its  plans. — [Oregon  Journal,  Portland,  Oreg.,  Feb.  9, 
1919.] 


OREGOK.  277 

Eeconstruction  Congress. 

A  State  reconstruction  congress  met  in  Portland,  January  10,  for 
a  three-day  session  on  call  of  the  governor. — [Spokansman-Review, 
Spokane,  Wash.,  Jan.  10,  1919.] 

The  resolutions  adopted  by  the  State  reconstruction  congress  in- 
clude: An  urgent  campaign  in  behalf  of  a  Federal  measure  to  pro- 
vide that  soldiers  upon  discharge  be  given  six  months'  pay  and 
transportation  to  place  of  enlistment ;  indorsement  of  a  Federal 
appropriation  for  western  reclamation  and  aid  of  discharged  sol- 
diers who  desire  to  settle  on  land;  urgent  request  that  the  State 
legislature  double  the  present  license  fee  on  automobiles,  in  order 
to  provide  additional  funds  to  be  expended  in  building  roads;  in- 
dorsement of  the  eight-hour  day  for  the  lumber  industry,  not  alone 
in  the  Pacific  Northwest  but  for  the  whole  country,  to  be  enforced 
by  enactment  of  Congress;  urging  that  all  counties  and  cities  at 
once  proceed  with  any  public  work  planned  or  contemplated  for 
the  future ;  declaration  that  no  service  flag  shall  be  retired  until  the 
men  represented  by  its  stars  have  been  reinstated,  or  at  least  until 
six  months  after  a  peace  treaty  has  been  signed ;  recommendation  that 
the  State  highway  commission  shall  proceed  at  once  with  road  con- 
struction projects  for  which  funds  are  available ;  that  county  courts 
expedite  their  road  programs,  and  that  returned  soldiers  be  given 
preference  in  this  employment;  recommendation  that  road  work  be 
clone  on  a  day-labor  basis  and  not  by  contract;  order  that  the  per- 
manent reconstruction  committee  take  such  steps  as  are  necessary 
for  State  cooperation  with  the  Federal  Government  in  a  reconstruc- 
tion program  contemplating  the  issuance  of  State  bonds  to  be 
matched  by  Federal  appropriations  for  reclamation  projects ;  recom- 
mendation that  extensive  use  be  made  by  employers  and  men  of  the 
United  States  Employment  Service  in  solving  the  returned  soldier- 
employment  problem;  tender  to  10,000  unemployed  already  in  the 
State  and  30,000  soldiers  soon  to  return,  of  assurance  that  the  State 
and  every  county  and  city  in  the  State  will  set  machinery  in  mo- 
tion to  give  them  public  employment  as  fast  as  possible;  urgent  re- 
quest to  the  United  States  Shipping  Board  that  new,  idle,  wooden 
steamers  now  lying  here  be  commissioned,  and  to  the  Emergency 
Fleet  Corporation  to  permit  the  building  of  more  vessels  for  private 
foreign  account.  In  addition  to  declaring  for  the  foregoing  meas- 
ures, the  congress  adopted  general  resolutions  recognizing  the  right 
of  every  man  to  work  upon  application,  and  pledging  the  State  to 
the  carrying  into  effect  of  a  comprehensive  reconstruction  program, 
and  particularly  to  the  bending  of  its  energies  to  a  solution  of  the 
unemployment  problem. — [Christian  Science  Monitor,  Boston,  Mass.", 
Jan.  27,  1919.] 


278        UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMEI^T  AND  RECOXSTRUCTION. 

School  Gardens. 

School  gardens  are  being  conducted  in  13  cities  and  towns^  the  total 
present  enroHment  in  the  State  being  2,320. — [Prepared  from  mate- 
rial furnished  by  U.  S.  School  Garden  Army  to  U.  S.  Council  of 
National  Defense,  Nov.  1,  1919.] 
Vocational  Eeeducation  of  Disabled  Service  Men. 

In  accordance  with  section  2  of  the  Federal  vocational  rehabili- 
tation act  of  June  27,  1918,  as  amended  July  11,  1919,  arrangements 
had  been  made  up  to  October  25,  1919,  by  the  Federal  Board  for 
Vocational  Education  with  10  educational  institutions  in  the  State 
for  the  reeducation  of  service  men  to  overcome  the  handicap  of  dis- 
abilities incurred  in  the  service.  A  total  of  119  such  men  have  been 
sent  to  these  institutions  for  training.  Arrangements  have  also  been 
made  by  this  board  with  eight  industrial  establishments  in  the  State 
whereby  the  latter  have  undertaken  to  train  eight  disabled  men.— 
[Compiled  from  statement  prepared  by  Rehabilitation  Division, 
Federal  Board  for  Vocational  Education.] 

PENNSYLVANIA. 

Americanization. 

The  committee  on  public  safety  feels  that  so  much  constructive 
work  has  been  accomplished  that  its  activities  should  continue.  It 
w^ould  like  to  see  formulated  a  comprehensive  program  by  which 
Americanization  work  can  be  systematically  carried  on. — [Letter 
from  Pennsylvania  Committee  on  Public  Safety  to  U.  S.  Council  of 
National  Defense,  Jan.  30,  1919.] 

The  governor  in  his  inaugural  address  said  that  throughout  tho 
State  the  question  of  interesting  the  foreign-born  population  in 
American  institutions  and  giving  them  an  understanding  of  our  laws 
and  ideals,  is  a  particularly^  important  one.  It  is  stated  that  fully 
20  per  cent  of  all  of  the  immigrants  arriving  on  our  shores  settle 
finally  in  Pennsylvania.  Plans  are  being  laid  to  bring  these  people, 
during  the  next  few  years,  even  more  closely  into  a  complete  under- 
standing with  us  by  encouraging  them  to  acquire  homes  and  by  ar- 
ranging popular  educational  courses  for  them.  The  State  is  alert 
to  the  situation  and  is  bringing  these  people  to  understand  that  tho 
autliorities  are  their  friends  and  will  protect  them. — [Times,  New 
York,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  2, 1919.] 

A  bill  has  been  enacted  authorizing  the  judge  of  the  court  of 
common  pleas  of  any  county  in  the  State  having  a  large  resident 
population  of  foreign-born  people,  to  appoint  one  or  more  competent 
instructors,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  teach  and  instruct  foreign- 
born  residents  of  the  county  who  are  not  required  to  attend  the 
public  schools,  in  the  duties,  privileges,  and  rights  of  citizenship  and 
in  tlie  principles  and  institutions  of  the  Government  of  the  United 


PENNSYLVANIA.  279 

States  and  of  Penns3^1vaiiia. — [Slip  Laws  of  Pennsylvania,  1919, 
Act  311.] 

Funds  have  been  provided  b}-  the  State  legislature  to  enable  the 
department  of  education  to  establish  day  and  night  schools  for  tl\o 
education  of  ddult  illiterates. 

An  experienced  director  has  been  placed  in  charge  of  the  work  of 
organizing  the  communities  where  Americanization  work  is  neces- 
sary.— [Memorandum  from  Americanization  division,  U.  S.  Dept. 
of  the  Interior  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  July  23,  1919.] 

The  small  mining  communities  in  the  Pennsjdvania  coal-field  dis- 
tricts have  been  well  organized  for  work  among  foreigners.  Com- 
munit}-  service  workers  secured  the  passage  of  the  school  code  bill 
which  authorizes  the  use  of  school  buildings  as  community  centers. 
During  the  development  of  these  community  centers,  foreign  men 
and  women  w^ill  be  given  an  opportunity  to  study  English.  In  one  of 
the  communities  a  tract  of  land  \yas  purchased  for  a  community  park 
with  recreational  facilities,  and  in  another  plans  for  playground 
activities  including  swimming  and  athletics  are  being  put  in  opera- 
tion.— [Report  of  War  Camp  Community  Service  for  U.  S.  Council 
of  National  Defense,  August,  1919.] 

The  president  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  system  has  issued  a 
statement  concerning  the  Americanization  work  done  by  that  cor- 
poration among  its  foreign-born  employees.  There  are  at  present 
on  the  whole  system,  both  east  and  west  of  Pittsburgh,  over  33,000 
men  of  foreign  birth.  Some  years  ago  a  canvas  showed  that  Ital- 
ians greatly  predominated  in  numbers.  To-day  they  make  up 
nearly  one-third  of  all  employees  of  foreign  birth  east  of  Pitts- 
burgh. With  the  feeling  that  Americanization  was  more  urgently 
needed  among  the  Italians  on  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  than 
among  the  representatives  of  any  other  nationality,  a  correspond- 
ence course  in  Italian-English  was  inaugurated  for  those  employed 
on  the  lines  east  of  Pittsburgh.  This  work  was  placed  in  direct 
charge  of  a  native-born  Italian,  Avho  is  also  a  graduate  of  Yale.  A 
similar  course  in  Italian-English  has  also  been  established  under 
the  charge  of  a  native-born  Italian  for  employees  on  the  lines  west 
of  Pittsburgh.  The  original  purpose  in  establishing  these  courses 
was  to  make  Italians,  who  are  largely  employed  in  track-maintenance 
gangs,  more  efficient  workmen  by  teaching  them  English  so  that 
they  might  better  understand  the  orders  of  their  foremen.  The 
language  courses  are  also  utilized  to  instruct  the  men  in  the  proper 
use  of  their  tools  and  in  the  fundamentals  of  safet}',  health,  and 
sanitation  to  aid  them  in  raising  their  standards  of  living.  Lectures 
on  safety  and  similar  subjects,  while  necessarily  given  at  times  in 
Italian  and  other  foreign  languages,  are  always  accompanied  by 


280       UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

lantern  slides  and  other  illustrations  in  which  English  words  are 
used.  To  ascertain  the  proportion  of  foreign-born  employees  who 
had  been  naturalized  or  were  in  process  of  becoming  citizens, 
a  special  analysis  was  made  as  of  June  30,  1918.  At  that  time 
there  were  in  the  service  of  the  Pennsylvania  lines  east  of  Pitts- 
burgh 25,721  men  of  alien  birth.  Of  this  number  it  was  found 
that  8,003  had  been  fully  naturalized,  3,069  had  taken  out  their 
first  papers,  and  5,064  had  definitely  announced  their  intention 
of  applying  for  naturalization.  In  other  words,  nearly  63  per  cent 
of  the  total  had  either  become  United  States  citizens  or  had  declared 
their  intention  of  so  doing.  On  the  lines  west,  out  of  a  total  num- 
ber of  7,500  employees  of  alien  birth,  about  1,900  were  naturalized, 
1,700  had  taken  first  steps  toward  naturalization,  and  1,300  had 
definitely  announced  their  intention  of  applying  for  citizenship. — 
[Americanization,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  the  Interior,  May  1,  1919.] 

The  community  service  in  Bethlehem  in  cooperation  with  the 
Americanization  bureau  of  the  welfare  department  of  a  steel  com- 
pany, established  classes  for  women  in  cooking,  sewing,  and  demon- 
stration in  the  care  of  babies.  These  classes  are  under  the  direction 
of  two  teachers  from  the  State  college. 

In  Bristol  the  interest  of  the  Italians  was  secured  through  com- 
munity singing  which  never  failed  to  attract  crowds  of  singers. 

An  elaborate  pageant,  league  of  nations,  given  at  Chester  under  the 
auspices  of  community  service,  in  which  nine  of  the  nationalities 
composing  Chester's  population  participated,  expressed  the  idea  of 
Americanization  and  community  service  among  the  foreign  elements, 
and  inspired  respect  for  American  ideals  and  customs  which  has 
since  been  fostered  by  community  service  activities.  Americanization 
among  Italians  in  Chester  is  carried  on  principally  at  one  of  the 
school  centers. — [Eeport  of  War  Camp  Community  Service  for  U.  S. 
Council  of  National  Defense,  August,  1919.] 

The  Americanization  bureau  conducted  by  the  Erie  board  of  educa- 
tion and  the  local  council  of  defense  provides  opportunities  in  the  way 
of  night-school  courses  for'  all  who  desire  to  avail  themselves  of 
them. — [Letter  from  secretary  of  mayor  of  Erie  to  U.  S.  Council  of 
National  Defense,  Mar.  24,  1919.] 

Farrell  has  one  of  the  largest  Americanization  schools  in  the 
United  States,  600  foreigners  joining  the  school  in  a  body,  being 
desirous  of  learning  the  English  language  and  American  customs. — 
[Christian  Science  Monitor,  Boston,  Mass.,  May  9,  1919.] 

The  ward  leaders  of  the  Lancaster  unit.  State  division  of  the 
Woman's  Committee,  United  States  Council  of  National  Defense, 
have  turned  in  the  names  of  more  than  300  unnaturalized  foreigners. 
Arrangements  have  been  made  by  the  Americanization  committee  to 
give  to  as  many  as  possible  of  these  foreigners  the  pamphlet.  How 
to  Become  an  American  Citizen  and  How  to  Obtain  Citizenship 


PENNSYLVANIA.  '  281 

Papers,  issued  by  the  National  Security  League.  As  the  public 
night  schools  have  closed  for  the  season  arrangements  have  been 
made  for  a  class  in  English  for  foreigners  who  wish  to  continue 
their  studies.  A  teacher  has  been  secured  and  a  room  at  the  Young 
Men's  Christian  Association  is  to  be  used. — [New  Era,  Lancaster, 
Pa.,  Apr.  13,  1919.] 

In  the  night  school  at  Mount  Carmel  the  classes  for  foreigners 
contain  about  as  many  men  as  women.  The  women  are  more  inter- 
ested in  the  domestic-science  work  than  in  the  academic  courses. 
The  interest  in  the  school  is  maintained  by  constantly  visiting  the 
foreigners  in  their  homes. 

At  Philadelphia  two  teachers  were  einployecl  last  year  in  the 
evening  classes  solely  to  teach  foreigners. — [Compiled  from  forth- 
coming report  of  director  of  citizenship  to  Commissioner  of  Naturali- 
zation, U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor,  1920.] 

In  Philadelphia  the  block  organization  method  is  employed  by 
which  Americanization  and  community  service  work  are  carried  on 
among  residents  in  blocks  or  streets.  In  one  of  the  outlying  districts 
English  classes  have  been  formed  among  the  Italians. — [Keport  of 
War  Camp  Community  Service  for  U.  S.  Council  of  National  De- 
fense, August,  1919.] 

To  begin  the  molding  of  foreign-born  residents  of  Pittsburgh  into 
*'  new  Americans  "  the  board  of  public  education  will  open  36  even- 
ing-school centers  on  January  6,  22  of  which  will  have  classes  in 
elementary  English  for  the  adult  foreign  born.  This  work  is  under 
the  auspices  of  the  Americanization  bureau  of  the  council  of  defense 
for  Allegheny  County.— [Leader,  Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  Dec.  22,  1918.] 

Several  hundred  foreigners  in  one  of  the  sections  of  Scranton  were 
reached  through  the  women's  clubs,  dancing  parties,  picnics,  and 
social  gatherings. 

Two  weeks'  activities  of  community  service  among  the  foreigners 
of  Steelton  brought  forth  requests  from  them  for  instruction  in 
English. — [Report  of  War  Camp  Community   Service  for   U.   S. 
Council  of  National  Defense,  August,  1919.] 
Assistance  for  Service  Men  and  Their  Families. 

An  act  has  been  approved  (Act  1)  extending  the  benefits  of 
the  soldiers'  orphan  industrial  school  at  Scotland,  Pa.,  to  orphans 
or  destitute  children  of  honorably  discharged  soldiers,  sailors,  and 
marines  of  the  war  with  Germany  and  Austria-Hungary.— [Infor- 
mation Bureau,  American  National  Red  Cross,  Compendium  Change 
No.  117.] 

A  bill  has  been  introduced  in  the  legislature  authorizing  counties, 
cities,  and  boroughs  to  appropriate  money  for  aiding,  entertaining, 
and  caring  for  soldiers,  sailors,  and  marines,  and  validating  appro- 
priations heretofore  made.    The  bill  was  drawn  to  meet  objections  to 


282        UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT   AND  EEC0NSTRUC:TI0N. 

a  similar  bill  which  was  vetoed. — [Public  Ledger,  Philadelphia,  Pa., 
Apr.  30,  1019.] 

An  act  has  been  approved  (Act  154)  authorizing  county  commis- 
sioners to  pay  from  county  funds  the  funeral  expenses,  up  to  $75,  of 
honorably  discharged  soldiers,  sailors,  and  marines,  resident  of  the 
county. — [Information  Bureau,  American  National  Red  Cross,  Com- 
pendium Change  No.  117.] 

Legal  needs  of  returning  soldiers  are  being  taken  care  of  by  a  com- 
mittee of  local  attorneys,  known  as  the  legal  advisory  committee. 
The  department  of  medicine  and  sanitation  of  the  State  council  of 
defense  provides  medical  relief  to  service  men  and  their  families 
where  needed.  The  civilian  relief  committee  of  the  local  chapter  of 
the  American  Red  Cross  is  looking  after  the  interests  of  soldiers' 
families  in  so  far  as  possible. — [Letter  from  secretary  of  mayor  of 
Erie  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  24,  1919.] 

Legal,  medical,  and  famil}^  aid  and  educational  facilities  are  listed 
at  the  Philadelphia  council  of  national  defense.  The  needs  of  return- 
ing service  meai  are  being  handled  by  a  completely  equipped  and 
coordinated  organization. — [Letter  from  joint  special  committee  on 
the  care,  sustenance  and  relief  of  service  men,  to  U.  S.  Council  of 
National  Defense,  Mar.  27,  1919.] 

Building  Activity. 

Interest  in  permanent  improvements  as  a  benefit  to  the  city  and  as 
a  means  of  taking  up  slack  in  labor  and  material  is  being  aroused  by 
the  Erie  Board  of  Commerce  by  means  oi  display  advertisements  run- 
ning in  the  newspapers  of  that  city.  Public  construction  of  all  kinds 
is  being  urged  upon  the  authorities.  Suggestions  for  municipal  im- 
provements have  been  made  by  the  real  estate  board,  board  of  com- 
merce, members  of  the  Erie  councils,  members  of  the  central  labor 
union,  and  other  citizens. — [News  letter  of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce 
of  IT.  S.  A.,  Mar.  1,  1919.] 

The  Allegheny  Valley  Industrial  Club,  representing  40  largo 
Pittsburgh  plants,  is  urging  the  pushing  of  public  works;  the  run- 
ning of  plants  by  manufacturers;  and  the  bringing  of  pressure  to 
bear  on  legislative  bodies  to  keep  labor  employed. — [Wall  Street 
Journal,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Mar.  28,  1919.] 
*'  Buy-Now  "  Campaign. 

The  city  of  Reading  is  cooperating  actively  in  the  "  Buy-it-now  " 
campaign  inaugurated  by  the  United  States  Council  of  National 
Defense.— [Eagle,  Reading,  Pa.,  Feb.  15,  1919.] 

Clearing  House  for  Social  Needs. 

The  volunteer  placement  bureau  which  was  organized  by  the 
Philadelphia  council  of  national  defense,  has  for  its  purpose  to  act 
as  a  clearing  house  where  the  existing  organizations  may   make 


PENKSYLVAI^^IA.  283 

known  the  social  needs  of  the  community,  and  where  volunteers 
seeking  fields  in  which  they  can  be  of  the  greatest  service  can  be 
guided.— [Record,  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  Jan.  12,  1919.] 

Commission  of  Public  Welfare. 

The  State  legislature  passed  a  bill,  June  24,  creating  a  commission 
of  public  welfare  to  succeed  the  committee  on  public  safety  and 
defense  Avhich  served  during  the  war.  It  comprises  the  governor  who 
is  ex  officio  chairman,  the  lieutenant  governor,  and  the  members  of 
the  State  military  board;  and  has  an  appropriation  of  $500,000  in 
addition  to  the  unexpended  fund  of  the  committee  of  public  safety 
and  defense.  The  duties  of  the  commission  include  Americanization 
of  foreign-born  residents;  the  betterment  of  social,  agricultural, 
educational,  and  industrial  conditions;  the  supervision  of  relief 
societies;  and  the  organization  of  historical  commissions. — [Slii) 
Laws  of  Pennsylvania,  1919,  Act  381.] 

Committee  on  Public  Safety. 

The  governor  expressed  the  opinion  that  the  committee  on  public 
safety  and  defense  will  be  continued,  and  said  that  the  attorney 
general  is  preparing  a  bill  which  will  give  it  broader  scope  and  j^er- 
haps  greater  usefulness  than  mider  the  present  act. — [Letter  from  the 
governor  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Jan.  29, 1919.] 

The  State  committee  on  public  safet}^  and  defense  has  undertaken 
an  expansion  of  the  State  home  defense  police  by  commissioning 
a  volunteer  force  of  14,000  men  throughout  the  State  to  meet  any 
emergency  that  might  arise  from  social  disorders. — [Public  Ledger, 
Philadelphia,  Pa.,  Mar.  8,  1919.] 

Council  of  Defense. 

Pennsylvania  is  already  overorganized,  and  it  is  very  unlikely 
that  it  will  take  up  the  community  council  idea,  as  all  the  depart- 
ments are  a  part  of  the  State  work.  Pennsylvania  prefers  to  work 
through  existing  organizations  along  lines  of  work  and  not  aloiig 
geographical  lines.  The  State  council  of  defense  is  practically  out 
of  existence.  It  is,  however,  holding  gi  skeleton  organization,  since 
its  appropriation  has  not  yet  been  exhausted,  until  the  governor 
creates  a  permanent  welfare  council  of  about  25  members.  This 
welfare  council  is  to  act  as  a  clearing  house  and  final  authority  on 
all  programs  for  welfare  work  undertaken  by  organizations  and 
agencies  within  the  State;  and  it  may  have  representation  in  the 
counties,  but  Avill  not  attempt  a  thorough  local  organization. — 
[Statement  by  chairman.  State  division  of  the  Woman's  Committee, 
IT.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  at  a  conference,  AVashington, 
D.  C,  Feb.  12,  1919.] 


284        UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

Education  of  Returned  Service  Men. 

Universities  and  colleges  in  the  State  are  offering  special  educa- 
tional opportunities  to  former  service  men.  Special  short  courses, 
easy  matriculation  examinations,  reduced  rates,  and  scholarships  are 
some  of  the  offers  made  to  soldiers  and  sailors. — [Tribune,  New 
York,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  14,  1919.] 
Employment. 

According  to  an  interview  with  the  lieutenant  governor,  the  State 
will  keep  up  all  the  Federal  employment  bureaus  from  which  Federal 
su Import  has  been  withdrawn. — [Oral  statement  of  Director  General 
of  U.  S.  Employment  Service.] 

A  comprehensive  plan  for  the  employment  of  disabled  soldiers 
begun  in  1917  by  the  State  department  of  labor  and  industry  is  bring- 
ing very  favorable  results.  The  department  sent  out  employment 
questionnaires  to  30,000  industrial  plants  in  Pennsylvania.  More 
than  900  have  replied  offering  employment  to  48,718  disabled  men. 
These  openings  have  been  classified  to  accommodate  applicants  ac- 
cording to  their  disabilities.  A  State  committee  appointed  by  the 
governor,  comprised  of  members  of  State  departments,  is  taking  up 
the  problem  of  physical  rehabilitation,  educational  training,  and 
employment  for  service  men. —  [North  American,  Philadelphia,  Pa., 
Mar.  2,  1919.] 

Labor  conditions  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State,  according  to 
officials  of  the  Federal  employment  service,  are  good,  considering  the 
fact  that  business  is  passing  through  the  reconstruction  period  fol- 
lowing the  discontinuance  of  work  on  munitions,  rifles,  and  big  guns. 
The  Government  employment  agents  in  the  Philadelphia  district 
have  placed  all  service  men  seeking  employment.  Up  to  March  5 
they  have  placed  20,000  men  in  congenial  employment,  Avhich  is 
5,000  in  excess  of  the  number  of  discharged  men  resident  in  the  dis- 
trict.—[Public  Ledger,  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  Mar.  16,  1919.] 

The  Federal  director  of  the  United  States  Employment  Service  in 
Pennsylvania  has  announced  that  the  service  will  be  reorganized  on 
a  basis  of  value  to  returning  service  men.  The  Government  will 
abolish  56  offices,  retaining  only  Philadelphia,  Pittsburgh,  and  Beth- 
lehem. The  State  now  has  13  offices  outside  of  Philadelphia  and  will 
abolish  some  and  establish  others  in  the  interest  of  population  and 
industry.— [Gazette,  York,  Pa.,  Mar.  21,  1919.] 

At  a  conference  between  a  representative  of  the  United  States  Coun- 
cil of  National  Defense  emergency  committee  on  employment  and  the 
acting  director  of  the  Federal  employment  service  in  Pennsylvania, 
it  was  reported  that  there  are  16  State  offices,  4  Federal  offices,  and  24 
Federal  bureaus  in  the  State  organized  specifically  to  care  for 
returning  soldiers,  sailors,  and  marines.  With  these  facilities,  aug- 
mented by  the  various  fraternal  and  welfare  organizations,  it  was 


PENNSYLVANIA.  •  285 

explained  that  every  point  in  the  State,  no  matter  how  remote,  Avould 
be  covered,  so  that  those  who  have  been  in  the  military  or  naval  serv- 
ice could  be  speedily  placed  in  suitable  positions  upon  being  dis- 
charged. The  representative  of  the  United  States  Council  of  Na- 
tional Defense  emergency  committee  on  employment  will  be  perma- 
nently stationed  in  Philadelphia  to  see  that  no  man  who  has  been  in 
the  service  lacks  employment.  Three  Army  officers,  one  each  in  the 
eastern,  central,  and  western  districts,  have  been  assigned  to  cooperate 
with  the  State,  employment  service. — [Record,  Philadelphia,  Pa., 
Apr.  9,  1919.] 

An  outline  of  the  elTorts  of  the  bureau  of  employment  of  the  State 
department  of  labor  and  industry  to  find  suitable  industrial  tasks 
in  the  State  for  disabled  soldiers  and  sailors  is  given  in  a  bulletin 
issued  by  the  department.  This  bulletin  analyzes  by  task  and  local- 
ity the  50,000  employment  opportunities  offered  by  900  employers  in 
GO  counties,  number  of  plants,  kinds  of  firms,  and  numbers  of  openings 
in  each  class  of  employment.  One  series  of  tables  show^s  at  what 
tasks  several  hundreds  of  disabled  men  are  now  employed  by  the 
Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railway  Co.  Another  chapter  on  "  place- 
ment of  disabled  soldiers  and  sailors  in  employment,"  gives  a  gen- 
eral review  of  the  placement  subject,  outlining  conditions  that  may 
be  expected  and  methods  to  be  employed  in  locating  each  disabled 
soldier  and  sailor  at  a  specified  task  in  Pennsylvania  plants. — [Scien- 
tific American,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Apr.  12,  1919.] 

Employment  offices  maintained  in  Pennsylvania  by  the  Federal 
Government  in  cooperation  with  State  and  local  organizations, 
report  that  during  the  six  months'  period,  January  1  to  June  30, 
1919, 187,688  persons  w^ere  registered  who  were  seeking  employment; 
270,622  requests  for  employees  were  received ;  and  92,479  persons  were 
placed  by  these  offices. — [Compiled  from  statistics  furnished  by  U.  S. 
Employment  Service,  Aug.  8,  1919.] 

Citations  have  been  issued  by  the  United  States  War  and  Navy 
Departments  to  2,904  firms  in  the  State,  these  employers  having 
assured  the  departments  that  they  will  reemploy  every  returned 
service  man  who  formerly  worked  for  them  and  left  to  serve  in  the 
Army  or  Navy  during  the  World  War. — [Memorandum  from 
assistant  to  Secretary  of  War  in  the  replacement  of  service  men  to 
civil  life,  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Nov.  20,  1919.] 

That  the  majority  of  the  big  business  concerns,  corporations,  and 
employers  of  labor  in  the  district  around  Altoona  are  not  only 
ready  to  take  back  former  workers  who  served  in  the  war,  but  employ 
new  men  who  were  crippled  in  the  Federal  service  is  indicated  in  a 
survey  completed  in  this  district  by  the  superintendent  of  the  State 
employment  office  in  Altoona.     Communications  had  been  addressed 


286        UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  EECONSTPaJCTION. 

to  the  employers  in  this  district  following  the  close  of  the  war  and 
the  beginning  of  the  return  of  service  men  who  sought  their  former 
lX)sitions.  Some  of  the  firms  do  not  need  extra  men  but  will  tako 
back  all  their  former  employees.  Others  can  use  extra  men,  even 
if  they  are  partially  disabled. — [Mirror,  Altoona,  Pa.^  May  1,  1919.] 

The  functions  of  the  soldiers'  and  sailors'  bureau  of  the  State,  op- 
erated by  the  United  States  Employment  Service,  will  be  increased 
by  a  plan  about  to  go  into  effect  from  the  Erie  office.  Five  sub- 
bureaus  will  be  located  throughout  the  county^  and  literature  and 
information  concerning  the  conduct  of  the  office  will  be  distributed 
among  the  citizens.  Each  bureau  will  do  its  best  to  find  jobs  for 
returning  service  men ;  will  refer  wouneled  soldiers  to  the  main  office 
in  Erie,  and  get  them  in  line  for  training  in  vocational  educational 
courses;  will  distribute  war-service  records,  and  plan  for  suitable 
receptions  for  the  men. — [Tim^s,  Erie,  Pa.,  Feb.  28, 1919.] 

In  view  of  the  curtailment  of  the  activities  of  the  United  States 
Employment  Service,  the  mayor  of  Erie  has  called  together  a  com- 
mittee which  is  working  for  the  purpose  of  continuing  the  employ- 
ment offices  by  means  of  local  or  State  finances. — [I^etter  from  secre- 
tai-y  of  mayor  of  Erie  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar. 
24,  "^1919.] 

All  returning  soldiers  of  Gloucester  will  find  their  jobs  waiting 
for  them  upon  their  return.  The  employers  have  discussed  tlie  ques- 
tion, and  they  will  give  the  soldiers  their  old  jobs  back  or  even  bet- 
ter places.— [Ee^ord,  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  Nov.  21,  1918.} 

The  Hazleton  Chamber  of  Commerce  and  the  civic  council  have 
decided  upon  a  practical  plan  to  afford  employment  to  discharged 
soldiers,  especially  those  who  are  imfitted  to  return  to  their  former 
positions  and  at  the  same  time  to  give  prominence  to*  Hazleton,  by 
providing  a  station  for  the  new  Wootlrow  Wilson  Aerial  Highway 
from  New  York  to  San  Francisco. — [Plain  Speaker,  Hazleton,  Pa., 
Mar.  21,  1919.] 

Many  returned  soldiers  are  finding  employment  with  the  Hog 
Island  shipyards.  At  pi-esent  there  are  3,800  discharged  soldiers, 
many  of  them  minus  an  arm  or  leg,  employed  at  the  shipyards. — 
[Press,  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  Mar.  16,  1919.] 

Employment  bureaus  are  being  conducted  in  Philadelphia  by  va- 
rious organizations  such  as  the  American  Red  Cross,  Young  Men's- 
Christian  Association,  etc.,  and  by  the  State  and  Federal  Govern- 
ments.— [Letter  from  joint  special  committee  on  the  care,  sustenance, 
and  relief  of  service  men,  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
Mar.  27,  1919.] 

Pittsburgh  has  taken  definite  steps  to  enable  home-coming  soldiers 
and  sailors  to  find  employment.     Soon   after  the  sigi^ing  of  tlie- 


PENNSYLVANIA.  287 

iirniistice  the  city  took  action  which  assured  returning  ser\-iGe  men 
preference  in  their  applications  for  servdce  with  the  city.  Openings 
in  the  police  and  fire  bureaus  have  been  kept  ready  in  anticipation 
of  filling  many  places  with  the  trained  men  from  the  Army  and 
Navy.  The  mayor's  committee  of  welcome  has  assumed  as  one  of  its 
functions  that  of  aiding  soldiers  in  getting  employment.  The  com- 
mittee Avill  make  a  canvass  to  compile  Pittsburgh's  official  roster  of 
se^^'ice  men  and  obtain  the  record  of  every  Pittsburgh  individual 
who  served  in  the  allied  armies. — [Post.  Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  Mar.  IG, 
1919.] 

All  employers  of  labor  have  been  urged  by  the  committee  of  the 
Chamber  of  Connnerce  of  Pottsville,  charged  Avith  the  task  of  endeav- 
oring to  place  returned  soldiers  and  sailors  in  positions,  to  lend  their 
cooperation  to  the  committee  and  to  the  local  office  of  the  United 
States  Employment  Service. — [Publication  of  the  Pottsville  Cham- 
ber of  Commerce,  January,  1919.] 

Extensive  stripping  of  coal  lands  in  Schuylkill  County  are  con- 
templated as  a  means  of  giving  employment  to  returning  soldiers. — 
[Pvecord,  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  Apr.  4,  1919.] 

Eesponses  have  been  received  by  the  examiner  in  charge  of  the 
Scranton  office  of  the  Federal  employment  service  from  a  majority  of 
the  manufacturers  queried  in  regard  to  positions  open  for  returned 
soldiers.  Most  of  the  concerns  forwarded  requisitions  for  soldiers, 
and  others  gave  assurance  that  everything  possible  will  be  done  to 
provide  work  for  the  service  men. — [Republican,  Scranton,  Pa.,  Feb. 
28,  1919.] 

When  the  task  of  securing  employment  was  taken  over  by  the 
State  on  the  discontinuance  of  the  United  States  Employment  Serv- 
ice, tlie  War  Camp  Community  Service  was  requested  to  continue  the 
operation  of  the  information  booths  in  the  city  hall  courtyard  in 
Scranton.  When  the  organization  of  returned  soldiers  was  com- 
pleted, a  committee  was  appointed  to  act  in  conjunction  with  the 
War  Camp  Community  Service  for  the  purpose  of  getting  jobs  for 
these  returned  soldiei^.  The  local  citizens'  employment  bureau 
formed  later  at  the  instigation  of  the  War  Camp  Community  Serv- 
ice, reported  in  July  that  few  men  were  out  of  employment. — 
[Report  of  War  Camp  Community  Service  for  U.  S.  Council  of 
National  Defense,  August,  1919.] 

Due  to  the  failure  of  Congress  to  appropriate  funds  to  carry  on 
the  work  of  the  Federal  employment  service,  the  Wilkes-Barre 
Chamber  of  Commerce  has  been  asked  to  carry  on  this  work  in  tho 
city  until  some  definite  plan  for  providing  employment  for  return- 
ing soldiers  can  be  mapped  out  by  the  Government.  In  this  con- 
nection the  chamber  of  commerce  will  work  in  conjunction  with  the 


288       UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

Woman's  Suffrage  Party  of  the  couiit}^,  which  is  to  open  a  free  em- 
ployment office  in  Wilkes-Barre. — [Times-Leader,  Wilkes-Barre,  Pa., 
Mar.  21,  1919.] 

Employment  for  men  suffering  from  the  effects  of  gas  and  those 
who  are  unable  to  follow  their  regular  lines  of  employment,  due  to 
sickness  contracted  during  service  with  the  Army,  Navy,  or  Ma- 
rine Corps,  is  being  sought  by  the  free  employment  bureau  estab- 
lished through  the  cooperation  of  the  Greater  Wilkes-Barre  Chamber 
of  Commerce  and  the  State  department  of  labor.  Appeals  are  being 
issued  to  all  industrial  heads  and  business  men  in  general  asking  for 
employment  for  these  men.  There  are  a  number  of  injured  men  in 
the  city  who  have  filed  applications  for  training  at  some  vocational 
school  established  by  the  Government,  but  they  need  employment 
during  the  time  that  their  applications  are  being  forwarded  and 
considered  for  approval  by  Government  officials. — [Times-Leader, 
Wilkes-Barre,  Pa.,  Apr.  10,  1919.] 

At  a  meeting  held  in  York,  delegates  from  the  various  civic  and 
patriotic  societies  of  the  town  and  county  organized  a  bureau  for 
returning  soldiers,  sailors,  and  war  workers.  The  primary  purpose 
of  the  organization  is  the  coordination  of  the  existing  war-relief 
bodies  into  one  corporate  whole  to  facilitate  soldiers,  sailors,  and 
war  workers  in  finding  employment. — [Gazette,  York,  Pa.,  Mar.  3, 
1919.] 
English  Language  in  Schools. 

The  governor  has  approved  the  bill  amending  the  school  code, 
whereby  every  child  between  8  and  16  years  of  age  is  required  to 
attend  a  day  school  in  which  common  English  branches  are  taught 
in  the  English  language.  This  is  the  first  of  the  bills  aimed  at  the 
German  language  to  be  approved.  The  bill  forbidding  the  teaching 
of  German  in  public  schools  has  been  sent  to  the  governor. — [Public 
Ledger,  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  Apr.  25,  1919.] 
High  Cost  of  Living. 

The  officials  of  Allentown  acquired  a  large  farm  that  has  been 
cultivated  and  the  vegetables  sold  to  the  people  at  prices  which 
prevented  the  competing  dealers  from  profiteering.  They  contem- 
plate converting  an  old  brewery  into  a  storage  warehouse  for  potatoes 
and  other  farm  products,  so  that  local  farmers  can  eliminate  the 
middleman,  insure  a  supply  for  the  people  of  the  city,  save  the 
farmers  expense,  and  secure  for  them  a  direct  profit.  The  officials 
ai*e  also  having  the  garbage  gathered  and  utilized  for  feeding  a 
thousand  pigs. — [Hudson  Observer,  Hoboken,  N.  J.,  Oct.  28,  1919.] 
Highways. 

A  law,  enacted  May  7,  1917,  provides  for  the  appointment  of  a 
commission  to  be  named  by  the  governor  to  outline  public  works 
in  order  to  provide  employment  for  the  people  of  the  State  at  fair 


PEX]?rSYLVANIA.  289 

wages  clurlng  any  period  of  industrial  depression. — [Inquirer,  Phila- 
delphia, Pa.,  Sept.  24,  1918.] 

To  aid  motor-truck  traffic,  the  Pennsylvania  Council  of  National 
Defense  will  make  an  additional  appropriation  of  $25,000  for  the 
improvement  of  two  stretches  of  road.  This  appropriation  is  in 
addition  to  the  $500,000  fund  appropriated  last  winter  for  war 
roads. — [Journal,  Providence,  P.  I.,  Dec.  1,  1918.] 

After  a  conference  with  officials  of  the  agricultural  department, 
the  State  highway  department  announced  that  it  is  going  to  take 
over  18  tractors  purchased  last  year  for  farm  work  by  the  agricul- 
tural department.  The  necessity  for  these  machines  for  farming 
activities  passed  with  the  close  of  the  war  and  the  return  of  Penn- 
sylvania soldiers  to  the  farms.  The  highway  department  will  em- 
ploy the  machines  for  road  work,  such  as  hauling  road  machines  and 
oiling  apparatus. — [New  Era,  Lancaster,  Pa.,  Feb.  20,  1919.] 

Complete  cooperation  between  the  counties  and  the  State  in  the 
latter's  program  for  a  comprehensive  system  of  road  building  was 
promised  by  a  hirge  delegation  of  road  enthusiasts  who  visited  the 
State  highway  commissioner.  Two  counties  propose  putting  up  a 
bond  issue  to  the  voters  next  fall,  Clearfield  County  a  $1,000,000 
issue  and  Mercer  County  one  for  $800,000.  This  money,  if  provided 
by  the  people,  will  be  used  for  the  construction  of  lateral  or  sec- 
ondary roads,  complementing  the  State's  system  of  main  highways. 
The  commissioner  said  numerous  counties  had  promised  coopera- 
tion in  the  construction  of  the  primary  roads,  but  the  department 
proposes  to  build  these. — [Public  Ledger,  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  Feb.  21, 
1919.] 

The  chief  engineer  of  the  State  advises  that  a  $50,000,000  bond 
issue  for  road  improvements  has  been  passed  in  Pennsylvania  and 
will  be  available  for  expenditure  as  soon  as  the  details  are  worked 
out. — [Bulletin  No.  46,  HigliAvays  Transport  Committee,  U.  S. 
Council  of  National  Defense.] 

The  State  highway  department  has  called  for  bids  on  62J  miles 
of  highway  construction.  The  April  openings  will  make  a  total  of 
IGG  miles  of  roads  for  which  bids  are  now  being  advertised. — [Public 
Ledger,  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  Mar.  17,  1919.] 

County  commissioners  are  authorized  to  appropriate  county  funds, 
for  the  improvement  and  reconstruction  of  borough  roads,  on  agree- 
ments heretofore  made  through  the  signing  by  the  governor  of  the 
senate  bill  validating  such  agreements. — [Chronicle  Telegraph, 
Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  Mar.  21,  1919.] 

Approximately  35,000  men  will  be  employed  during  the  present 
year  on  road  building  in  Pennsylvania.  According  to  plans  of  the 
State  highway  department,  600  miles  of  road  will  be  built.  It  is 
134286°— 20 19 


290       UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

estimated  that  within  the  next  two  months  contractors  will  have 
to  go  in  the  labor  market  and  employ  at  least  10,000  men,  in  addi- 
tion to  the  forces  the  large  construction  organizations  regularly 
carry.  The  State  employment  service  will  be  relied  upon  in  obtain- 
ing the  men.  Approximately  $100,000,000  will  be  spent  on  road 
building  in  the  State  in  the  next  four  years.  In  addition,  the  State 
will  receive  Federal  aid,  and  the  counties  are  expected  to  expend 
many  millions  of  dollars  for  road  purposes. — [Post,  New  York, 
N.  Y.,  Mar.  22,  1919.] 

The  governor's  reconstruction  program  comprehends  an  extensive 
plan  for  the  construction  of  highways,  for  which  an  expenditure  of 
$50,000,000  has  been  authorized.  In  view  of  the  vast  amount  of 
material  needed  for  road  construction  in  this  State,  it  is  asked  that 
the  United  States  Railroad  Administration  give  early  consideration 
to  the  question  of  liberal  freight  rates,  so  that  ample  facilities  may 
be  afforded  to  carry  forward  this  project. — [Plain  Speaker,  Hazle- 
ton.  Pa.,  Apr.  1,  1919.] 

On  October  1,  1919,  66  highway  projects  had  been  approved  in  the 
State,  involving  the  improvement  of  450.62  miles  of  road  at  a  total 
estimated  cost  of  $19,234,000.42,  of  which  the  Federal  Government 
is  requested  to  pay  $7,618,973.39  in  accordance  with  the  provisions 
of  the  Federal-aid  road  act  of  July  11,  1916,  as  amended  by  the  act 
of  February  28,  1919. — [Statement  prepared  by  Bureau  of  Public 
Roads,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture.] 

Under  an  act,  approved  July  15,  the  sum  of  $1,000,000  is  specifi- 
cally appropriated  to  the  State  highway  department  for  the  fiscal 
year  commencing  June  1,  1920,  for  the  payment  of  awards  to  town- 
ships of  the  second  class  for  the  construction  and  improvement  of 
township  roads  and  the  erection  and  construction  of  township 
bridges  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the  general  township 
act. — [Slip  Laws  of  Pennsylvania,  1919,  Act  381.] 

Home  Gardens. 

A  bill  was  introduced  in  the  senate  providing  for  a  homestead 
commission  which  shall  have  the  power  to  investigate  and  devise 
ways  and  means  by  which,  with  or  without  the  assistance  of  the  com- 
mission, mechanics,  factory  employees,  laborers,  clerks,  and  other 
persons  with  small  incomes  may  acquire  homesteads  or  small  houses 
and  plats  of  ground  suitable  for  gardening  and  raising  vegetables 
in  and  near  cities  of  the  State.  The  commission  is  to  consist  of  the 
commissioner  of  labor  and  industry,  the  commissioner  of  health,  the 
commissioner  of  banking,  and  four  members  to  be  appointed  by  the 
governor.  Of  the  four  members  appointed  by  the  governor  one 
shall  be  a  woman  and  at  least  one  a  representative  of  labor.  The 
commission  is  to  serve  without  compensation  and  must  render  a  re- 


PENNSYLVANIA.  291 

port  to  the  next  legislature,  making  such  recommendations  as  it 
shall  deem  expedient.  The  bill  carries  an  appropriation  of  $5,000. — 
[Public  Ledger,  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  Apr.  18,  1919.] 

Housing  Accommodations. 

A  manufacturing  concern  of  Ellwood  City  has  purchased  prop- 
erty and  will  erect  85  houses  for  the  accommodation  of  its  employees 
and  their  families. 

At  Erie  a  manufacturing  concern  has  purchased  five  tracts  of  land 
at  a  cost  of  $405,000,  and  100  houses  are  already  under  construction. 

The  mayor  of  Harrisburg  has  investigated  the  housing  conditions 
and  finds  so  many  untenantable  houses  with  insanitary  surroundings 
that  he  demands  measures  requiring  landlords  to  make  repairs  or 
improvements  on  these  houses. 

At  Marcus  Hook  a  dye  and  chemical  company  has  commenced  the 
construction  of  several  hundred  houses  for  its  employees.  Some  time 
ago  28  dw^ellings  were  completed  as  an  experiment,  and  the  demand 
for  them  was  so  gi^at  that  the  company  has  decided  to  extend  this 
home  building. — [Housing  Betterment,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  February, 
1919.] 

A  public-spirited  citizen  of  Philadelphia  has  evolved  a  scheme 
designed  to  guarantee  the  responsibility  of  the  tenants  for  certain 
of  his  properties.  The  tenant  agrees  to  make  a  monthly  payment  to 
the  owner  and  to  pay  all  taxes,  water  rent,  and  the  cost  of  the  up- 
keep of  the  interior  of  the  house.  The  tenant  must  also  deposit  with 
the  owner  a  sum  of  money  as  a  guaranty  that  this  interior  upkeep 
will  be  met.  The  owner  is  responsible  for  the  condition  of  the  exte- 
rior.— [Housing  Betterment,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  June,  1919.] 

An  extensive  campaign  of  house  building  is  planned  in  the  Pitts- 
burgh-district  by  large  corporations,  in  order  to  hold  the  skilled  and 
unskilled  laborers. — [Christian  Science  Monitor,  Boston,  Mass., 
Aug.  28,  1919.] 

Information  Service  for  Returned  Service  Men. 

The  local  branches  of  the  American  Red  Cross  are  cooperating 
with  other  organizations  in  establishing  contacts  with  service  men 
for  the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  adjustment  of  their  allotments, 
allowance  accounts,  compensation  and  claims,  and  the  reinstatement 
of  lapsed  or  canceled  insurance.  It  is  the  desire  of  the  Bureau  of 
War  Bisk  Insurance  that  all  inquiries  of  this  nature  be  cleared 
through  the  home-service  sections  of  the  American  Red  Cross.  Up 
to  April  1,  1919,  the  American  Red  Cross  had  organized  in  Pennsyl- 
vania 1,062  units  with  a  total  of  1,864  workers. — [Statement  pre- 
pared by  American  National  Red  Cross  for  U.  S.  Council  of  Na- 
tional Defense,  November,  1919.] 


292       UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

Land  Settlement. 

No  action  has  been  taken  by  the  State  legislature  concerning  land 
settlements.  On  May  29  the  adjutant  general  wrote  as  follows: 
"•No  committees  or  commissions  have  been  appointed  in  connection 
with  the  soldier-settlement  problem.  We  have,  however,  in  the  State 
a  welfare  commission,  and  any  question  of  this  kind  could  be  taken 
up,  under  the  law,  by  them,  and  they  could  apply  fimds  in  their 
possession  for  such  a  purpose  if  deemed  advisable." — [Memorandum 
from  Reclamation  Service,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  the  Interior  to  U.  S.  Coun- 
cil of  National  Defense,  July  1,  1919.] 

Loans  to  Service  Men. 

A  bill  authorizing  the  State  government  to  loan  money  to  honor- 
ably discharged  soldiers,  sailors,  and  marines  residing  within  the 
Commonwealth  w^ho  desire  to  use  the  money  for  the  purchase  of 
homes,  farms,  or  other  places  of  dwelling  for  themselves  or  depend- 
ents, was  introduced  in  the  house.  The  bill  provides  that  such  loans 
shall  be  made  at  regular  interest  rates  by  a  commission  consisting 
of  the  governor,  attorney  general,  auditor  general,  and  State  treas- 
urer. The  act  appropriates  $500,000  for  the  floating  of  such  loans 
and  the  expenses  of  the  commission. — [Public  Ledger,  Philadelphia, 
Pa.,  Mar.  6, 1919.] 
Preference  to  Returned  Service  Men  in  Public  Employment. 

A  bill  has  been  enacted  authorizing  preference  to  be  given  by  the 
appointing  power  of  the  civil-service  system  to  all  honorably  dis- 
charged soldierf^,  sailors,  and  marines  in  any  Avar,  whose  names  are 
on  the  eligible  list,  irrespective  of  standing  on  the  list  or  of  age. — •■ 
[Slip  Laws  of  Pennsylvania,  1919,  Act  220.] 

At  a  meeting  of  the  county  commissioners  it  was  decided  to  give 
returning  soldiers  w^ho  are  not  able  to  secure  employment  preference 
in  securing  jobs  when  the  road  work  opens  up  in  Luzerne  County. — 
[Times-Leader,  Wilkes-Barre,  Pa.,  Mar.  28,  1919.] 

Profiteering. 

A  bill  has  been  introduced  in  the  house  requiring  in  all  leases  of 
lands  and  tenements  that  the  rent  to  be  f)aid  shall  be  definitely  agreed 
upon.  Provision  is  made  for  bringing  before  a  court  cases  involv- 
ing a  refusal  to  pay  rent  because  it  has  been  unreasonably  increased, 
and  a  jury  is  to  find  what  is  a  fair  rental. — [Public  Ledger,  Phila- 
delphia, Pa.,  Mar.  28,  1919.] 

Public  Advertising  in  Foreign  Language  Newspapers. 

A  bill  was  defeated,  but  it  is  to  be  reconsidered  in  the  house  of  rep- 
resentatives, providing  for  the  repeal  of  the  law  making  it  obligatory 
to  print  public  advertising  in  German  and  other  foreign-language 
newspapers. — [Record,  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  Mar.  24,  1919.] 


PENNSYLVANIA.  293 

Public  Works. 

The  governor  is  considering  the  feasibility  of  having  a  bill  pre- 
pared for  the  legislature  to  empower  him  to  engage  experts  during 
the  period  of  reconstruction  work.  The  bill  would  confer  on  him 
power  to  engage  as  consultants,  engineers,  architects,  and  other  ex- 
perts. The  governor  is  required,  under  the  constitution,  to  act  upon 
contracts  let  by  the  State  for  construction  and  supplies.  He  must 
also  approve  the  expenditures  of  the  board  of  public  grounds  and 
l)ublic  buildings,  of  which  he  is  chairman.  This  board  will  haA'e 
charge  of  the  capital  park  development,  involving  millions  of  dol- 
lars; State  bridges;  and  the  State  highway  program.  The  large 
works  contemplated  make  it  desirable  for  the  governor  to  have  at 
his  call  the  State's  and  the  Nation's  greatest  experts.  The  proposed 
bill  will  carry  an  appropriation  to  be  expended  by  the  governor  as 
need  arises. — [Public  Ledger,  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  Mar.  3,  1919.] 

By  an  act  of  legislature,  July  25,  1917,  the  emergency  public- 
works  commission  was  established  in  the  State,  "  to  provide  for  the 
expansion  of  the  public  works  of  the  Commonwealth  during  periods 
of  extraordinary  unemployment  caused  by  temporary  industrial  de- 
pression." The  act  provides  an  emergency  public-works  fund, 
starting  at  $50,000  in  the  first  appropriation,  and  constitutes  a  com- 
mission composed  of  the  governor,  the  auditor  general,  the  State 
treasurer,  and  the  commissioner  of  labor  and  industry.  A  few  days 
after  the  armistice  was  signed  the  commission  began  to  stimulate 
the  public  works  of  the  counties  and  cities  of  the  State  through  cor- 
respondence. Soon  after,  the  commission  requested  the  various 
departments  of  the  State  government  to  report  what  useful  necessary 
public  work  they  could  do  during  the  demobilization  period,  pro- 
vided the  necessary  appropriation  and  organization  were  forthcom- 
ing. Upon  receiving  this  information  the  commission  made  a  report 
to  the  present  legislature  on  the  method  of  expanding  public  works 
in  the  State  in  the  existing  emergency.  It  is  now  before  the  legis- 
lature for  action  and  takes  up  in  order:  Highways,  forestry,  fac- 
tories, and  public  works  in  counties  and  cities. — [Engineering 
News-Record,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Mar.  17,  1919.] 

Reports  received  in  January,  1919,  cover  207  public  building  and 
construction  projects  which  Avere  under  way  or  contemplated  in  the 
State,  aggregating  an  estimated  value  of  $79,150,000.  Of  this  num- 
ber, 52  were  street  improvements,  estimated  to  cost  $27,440,000;  44 
were  schools,  estimated  to  cost  $9,165,000;  and  13  were  w^aterworks, 
estimated  to  cost  $9,515,000. — [Statistics  compiled  by  Division  of 
Public  Works  and  Construction  Developments,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor, 
Apr.  17,  1919.] 

The  general  appropriation  act,  approved  July  17,  provides  for  an 
expenditure  of  $2,349,054  for  public  buildings  and  grounds  in  Har- 
risburg.— [Public  Ledger,  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  July  18,  1919.] 


294        UIJTITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

In  order  to  provide  work  for  the  returning  soldiers  and  others  out 
of  employment,  arrangements  are  being  made  to  start  operation  on 
some  of  the  permanent  improvements  in  Philadelphia  which  were 
ready  when  the  war  started  and  which  were  halted  by  the  Govern- 
ment. Large  sums  of  mone}'  are  available  for  the  work,  and  it  is  con- 
templated to  start  operations  as  soon  as  possible  on  a  number  of 
civic  improvements. — [Public  Ledger,  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  Mar.  11, 
1919.] 

A  city  ordinance  has  been  introduced  in  Philadelphia  authorizing 
a  loan  of  $14,750,000,  including  in  this  total  numerous  items  for  the 
development  of  the  municipal  sewer  and  water  systems. — [Public 
Ledger,  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  May  30,  1919.] 

With  the  view  of  providing  work  for  the  unemployed  with  special 
reference  to  the  returning  soldiers,  a  special  meeting  of  the  city 
council  of  Reading  was  called.  A  resokition  was  passed  authorizing 
the  superintendent  of  public  parks  and  public  property  to  proceed 
with  public  works  within  the  limitations  of  the  appropriation  of  the 
annual  budget  forthwith,  instead  of  extending  the  work  over  the 
whole  year. — [Herald,  Eeading,  Pa.,  Apr.  5, 1919.] 
Regristratian  of  IWscharge  Papers. 

An  act  has  been  approved   (Act  178)   requiring  the  counties  of 
the  State  to  register,  free  of  charge,  the  discharge  papers  of  soldiers, 
sailors,  and  marines. — [Information  Bureau,  American  National  Red 
Cross,  Compendium  Change  No.  117.] 
School  Gardens. 

School  gardens  are  being  conducted  in  196  cities  and  towns,  the 
total  present  enrollment  in  the  State  being  86,101.  In  Philadelphia 
during  the  fiscal  year  ending  June  30,  1919,  there  were  18,000  children 
enrolled. — [Prepared  from  material  furnished  by  U.  S.  School  Gar- 
den Army  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Nov.  1,  1919.] 
Suffrage  for  Keturned  Service  Men. 

Provision  has  been  made  under  an  act  of  the  legislature  whereby 
any  soldier,  sailor,  or  maiine  in  service  or  who  has  served  in  the 
Army  or  Navy  of  the  United  States  and  who  has  returned  to  his 
home,  shall  be  entitled  to  vote  in  his  respective  election  district, 
notwithstanding  that  such  soldier,  sailor,  or  marine  has  not  been 
assessed,  has  not  paid  the  usual  taxes,  or  is  not  personally  registered 
in  the  district  in  which  he  resides. — [Slip  Laws  of  Pennsylvania, 
1919,  Act  382.] 
Vocational  Education  of  Physically  Handicapped  Persons. 

A  bill  providing  industrial  education  for  all  persons  handicapped 
by  physical  defects,  either  congenital  or  the  result  of  accident,  at  tlie 
expense  of  the  State,  will  be  introduced  in  the  legislature.  The  meas- 
ure provides  an  appropriation  of  $100,000  and  places  direction  of 
the  proposed  new  activity  in  the  hands  of  the  workmen's  compensa- 


PENNSYLVANIA.  295 

tion  board.  Its  object  is  to  obliterate  mendicancy  by  fitting  all  resi- 
dents of  the  State  for  a  place  in  the  industrial  world. — [Post,  Pitts- 
burgh, Pa.,  Apr.  11,  1919.] 

Vocational  Education  of  Service  Men. 

As  part  of  the  program  to  commemorate  the  completion  of  a  hun- 
dred years  of  missionary  activity,  Philadelphia  Methodists  ha\o 
bought  a  six-stor}^  factory  building  to  be  used  to  train  discharged 
soldiers  in  various  trades.  It  is  proposed  to  devote  $250,000  to  this 
project. — [North  American,  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  Dec.  20,  1918.] 

Vocational  Reeducation  of  Disabled  Service  Men. 

In  accordance  with  section  2  of  the  Federal  vocational  rehabili- 
tation act  of  June  27,  1918,  as  amended  July  11,  1919,  arrangements 
had  been  made  up  to  October  25,  1919,  by  the  Federal  Board  for 
Vocational  Education  with  73  educational  institutions  in  the  State 
for  the  reeducation  of  service  men  to  overcome  the  handicap  of  dis- 
abilities incurred  in  the  service.  A  total  of  952  such  men  have  been 
sent  to  these  institutions  for  training.  Arrangements  have  also  been 
made  by  this  board  with  90  industrial  establishments  in  the  State 
whereby  the  latter  have  undertaken  to  train  a  total  of  108  disabled 
men. — [Compiled  from  statement  prepared  by  Rehabilitation  Divi- 
sion, Federal  Board  for  Vocational  Education.] 

Welfare  Commission. 

The  commission  of  public  safety  and  defense  was  made  permanent 
as  the  public  welfare  commission.  The  commission  of  public  safety 
was  legalized  at  the  beginning  of  the  war  and  was  composed  of  State 
officials.  It  in  turn  appointed  the  State  council  of  defense,  which 
was  the  active  body.  The  new  commission  will  comprise  the  gover- 
nor as  chairman,  the  lieutenant  governor,  and  the  members  of  the 
military  board.  The  new  body  has  an  appropriation  of  $500,000  and 
all  unexpended  funds  of  former  commission,  and  is  authorized  to 
appoint  a  secretary,  an  executive  director,  a  treasurer,  and  various 
clerks  and  stenographers  as  needed.  Superintendent  of  buildings  is 
to  supply  offices  in  or  out  of  State  capitol.  The  program  of  the  com- 
mission includes:  Protection  of  life  and  property  of  the  people; 
measures  for  Americanization  of  foreign  born  and  for  interpretation 
to  American  born  of  life  and  ideals  of  the  United  States;  assistance 
in  any  movement  for  bettering  social,  educational,  agricultural,  or 
industrial  conditions ;  affiliation  with  relief  organizations  and  issuing 
of  certificates  of  good  standing  to  approved  societies;  perpetuation 
of  deeds  of  soldiers  and  citizens  of  the  State  and  publishing  of  the 
war  history. — [Reply  from  State  council  of  defense  to  questionnaire 
of  the  Field  Division,  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  June  30, 
1919.] 


296       UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

Welfare  of  Returned  Service  Men. 

As  an  extension  of  the  program  of  the  local  Young  Men's  Christian 
Association  to  aid  the  returning  soldiers  to  get  as  quickly  as  possible 
to  normal  life,  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  committee  of 
Harrisburg  has  established  a  special  secretary  to  cover  a  district  em- 
bracing the  eight  counties  in  this  section  of  the  State.  The  work  has 
already  been  effective  in  serving  the  soldiers  returning  to  Scranton. 
^he  plan  for  covering  so  extensive  a  section  is  to  secure  the  coopera- 
tion of  men  interested  in  the  work  in  each  town  and  district  of  these 
eight  counties. — [Eepublican,  Scranton,  Pa.,  Mar.  5,  1919.] 

PHILIPPIlSrE   ISLANDS. 

Americanization. 

A  cablegram  from  the  vice  governor  states  that  the  Philippine 
Legislature  has  voted   30,500,000  pesos  to  extend   its  educational 
system.     All   instruction   is  to  be   in  English. — [Americanization, 
U.  S.  Dept.  of  the  Interior,  Sept:  1,  1919.] 
Community  Councils. 

Community  councils  have  been  organized  in  800  municipalities 
of  the  Philippine  Islands  to  carry  on  work  parallel  to  that  under- 
taken in  this  country.  No  municipality  of  any  consequence  on  the 
Islands  is  unorganized.  The  unit  of  organization  is  the  "  sub- 
council."  The  personnel  of  the  subcouncil  includes  the  president 
and  councilmen  of  each  municipality,  who,  in  turn,  decide  upon  the 
governing  board  and  officers  for  the  local  community  council. 
While  the  Island  council  bears  the  same  relationship  to  the  United 
States  Council  of  National  Defense  as  do  the  separate  State  councils 
of  defense,  the  problems  handled  in  the  United  States  do  not  always 
have  their  duplication  in  the  Philippines.  For  instance,  the  question 
of  unemployment  is  reversed  as  men  are  needed  for  necessary  jobs. 
The  need  for  giving  legal  aid  to  soldiers  and  sailors  and  for  aiding 
the  Bureau  of  War  Risk  Insurance,  which  forms  so  large  a  part  of  the 
work  in  the  United  States,  is  absent.  An  appropriation  of  $100,000 
was  granted  the  Philippine  council  for  the  year  1919,  and  about 
$85,000  of  this  remains. — [Statement  of  V.  S.  Council  of  National 
Defense,  Mar.  6,  1919.] 
Employment. 

Labor  is  scarce  in  the  Philippines.  The  government  is  offering 
special  inducements  to  keep  on  the  Islands  hundreds  of  Filipinos 
Avho  annually  emigrate  to  Hawaii,  where  they  are  employed  on  the 
sugar  plantations.  The  Hawaiian  planters  maintain  a  regular  em- 
ployment agency  in  the  Philippines  through  which  they  secure  la- 
borers by  offering  higher  wages,  transportation,  and  various  other 
inducements.— [Times,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Apr.  25, 1919.] 


KHODE  ISLAND.  297 

School  Gardens. 

School  gardens  are  being  conducted,  the  total  present  enrollment 
in  one  province  being  5,934. — [Prepared  from  material  furnished  by 
U.  S.  School  Garden  Army  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
Nov.  1,  1919.] 
Shipbuilding. 

An  effort  is  being  made  by  the  Philippine  government  to  stimulate 
the  building  of  ships  on  the  Islands,  particularly  such  as  are  adapted 
to  interisland  trade.  This  effort  is  meeting  with  a  promising  re- 
sponse.— [Commerce  Reports,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Commerce,  Oct.  15, 
1918,  p.  195.] 

PORTO   RICO. 
rood  Price  Regulations. 

A  resolution  authorizing  the  reestablishment  of  the  Porto  Rico 
Food  Commission  under  the  $1,000,000  loan  to  be  arranged  by  the 
governor  in  order  to  combat  the  present  high  prices  demanded  for 
foodstuffs  throughout  the  island,  has  been  approved  by  the  house  of 
representatives,  and  the  measure  was  ordered  printed  and  forwarded 
to  the  senate  immediately  for  action. — [Christian  Science  Monitor, 
Boston,  Mass.,  June  30,  1919.] 

School  Gardens. 

School  gardens  are  being  conducted,  the  total  present  enrollment 
reported  being  100,000. — [Prepared  from  material  furnished  by 
U.  S.  School  Garden  Army  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
Nov.  1,  1919.] 

RHODE   ISLAND. 
Americanization. 

The  State  federation  of  women's  clubs  has  begun  active  work  in 
Providence  for  Americanization. — [Americanization,  U.  S.  Dept. 
of  the  Interior,  Mar.  1,  1919.] 

An  Americanization  measure  has  been  passed  by  the  State  legis- 
lature making  a  limited  amount  of  education  compulsory  for  persons 
over  16  and  less  than  21  years  of  age,  w^ho  do  not  speak,  read,  and 
w^rite  English  in  accord  with  standards  approved  by  the  State  board 
of  education.  For  this  purpose  the  bill  provides  for  the  establish- 
ment of  night  schools,  day  continuation  schools,  factory  classes 
under  control  and  supervision  of  town  school  committees,  and  the 
attendance  of  persons  covered  by  the  act  for  200  hours  annually  is 
required.— [Laws  of  Rhode  Island,  1919,  ch.  1802.] 

A  systematic  plan  has  been  evolved  in  the  State  whereby  the  com- 
missioner of  naturalization  notifies  the  Americanization  committee 
of  the  aliens  who  apply  for  their  first  papers.  These  aliens  are  then 
urged  to  attend  night  schools.    When  the  necessary  work  has  been 


298       UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  KECONSTRUCTION, 

completed  a  diploma  explaining  the  quality  and  quantity  of  the 
work  done,  with  the  signature  of  the  governor  of  the  State,  is  given 
to  each  student. — [Christian  Science  Monitor,  Boston,  Mass.,  Aug. 
28,  1919.] 

Providence  maintains  a  school  for  foreigners,  all  men,  with  a 
maximum  enrollment  of  250.  The  stress  is  laid  on  the  instruction 
in  civics  for  naturalization. — [Compiled  from  forthcoming  report 
of  director  of  citizenship  to  Commissioner  of  Naturalization,  U.  S. 
Dept.  of  Labor,  1920.] 
Assistance  for  Service  Men  and  Their  Families.  **• 

The  American  Red  Cross  and  citizens'  committees  in  several  towns 
are  giving  legal,  medical,  and  family  aid.  The  governor  is  assisting 
dependents  of  soldiers  and  sailors  with  wliatever  funds  there  are 
available  for  that  purj^ose. — [Telegram  from  the  go^'ernor  to  U.  S. 
Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  24,  1919.] 

Provision  is  made  by  an  act  of  the  legislature  for  the  admission 
to  the  Rhode  Island  Soldiers'  Home  of  any  veteran  of  any  war  of 
the  United  States,  provided  he  was  a  resident  of  the  State  when  he 
enlisted,  was  honorably  discharged,  and  by  reason  of  old  age  or  other 
infirmities  has  no  adequate  means  of  support. — [Laws  of  Rhode 
Island,  1919,  ch.  1751.] 
Bonuses  for  Service  Men. 

A  bill  is  pending  before  the  legislature  providing  a  bonus  for  each 
honorably  discharged  soldier  or  sailor  from  Rhod«  Island.  The  city 
of  Providence  pays  to  each  of  its  employees  who  entered  tlie  service 
of  the  United  States  the  difference?  between  the  pay  he  receives  in  the 
Army  and  that  which  he  received  from  the  city  at  the  time  of  his 
enlistment. — [Telegram  from  mayor  of  Providence  to  U.  S.  Council 
of  National  Defense,  Mar.  25,  1919.] 
Council  of  Defense. 

Dissolution  of  the  State  council  of  defense,  through  an  indefinite 
adjournment,  was  voted  at  a  meeting.  The  council  may  be  called 
together,  however,  with  full  powers  should  the  necessity  arise. — 
[News,  Providence,  R.  L,  Nov.  29,  1918.] 

Employment. 

Resolution  12  appropriates  $9,550  to  be  expended  by  the  governor 
for  the  maintenance  of  State  free  employment  offices  for  discharged 
soldiers  and  sailoi-s  and  other  unemployed. — [Information  Bureau, 
American  National  Red  Cross,  Compendium  Change  No.  117.] 

Employment  agencies  have  been  established  in  four  cities  by  the 
State  fo;-  the  benefit  of  returning  soldiers  and  sailors, — [Telegram 
from  the  governor  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  24, 
1919.] 

Employment  offices  maintained  in  Rhode  Island  by  the  Federal 
Goverimient  in  cooperation  with  State  and  local  organizations,  re- 


RHODE  ISLAND.  299 


^*- 


port  that  during  the  six  months'  period  January  1  to  June  30,  1919, 
18,366  persons  were  registered  who  were  seeking  employment;  14,082 
requests  for  employees  were  received;  and  8,301  persons  w^ere  placed 
by  these  offices. — [Compiled  from  statistics  furnished  by  U.  S.  Em- 
ployment Service,  Aug.  8,  1919.] 

Citations  have  been  issued  by  the  United  States  War  and  Navy  De- 
partments to  260  firms  in  the  State,  these  employers  having  assured 
the  departments  that  they  will  reemploy  every  returned  service  man 
who  formerly  worked  for  them  and  left  to  serve  in  the  Army  or  Navy 
during  the  World  War. — [JMemorandum  from  assistant  to  Secretary 
of  War  in  the  replacement  of  service  men  to  civil  life,  to  U.  S. 
Council  of  National  Defense,  Nov.  20,  1919.] 

The  matter  of  obtaining  employment  in  Providence  for  returning 
service  men  is  under  the  direction  of  the  United  States  Employment 
Service  for  the  State,  and  the  Providence  citizens'  committee  ap- 
pointed by  the  mayor.  With  this  committee  are  associated  represen- 
tatives of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  and  the  National 
Catholic  War  Council.  The  War  Camp  Community  Service  has 
agreed  to  help  finance  the  citizens'  committee. — [Letter  from  mayor 
of  Providence  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  25, 1919.] 
Highways. 

On  October  1,  1919,  five  highway  projects  had  been  approved  in  the 
State,  involving  the  improvement  of  12.77  miles  of  road  at  a  total 
estimated  cost  of  $423,513.47,  of  which  the  Federal  Government  is 
requested  to  pay  $169,689.46,  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the 
Federal-aid  road  act  of  July  11,  1916,  as  amended  by  the  act  of 
February  28,  1919. — [Statement  prepared  by  Bureau  of  Public 
Roads,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture.] 

Information  Service  for  Returned  Service  Men. 

The  local  branches  of  the  American  Red  Cross  are  cooperating 
with  other  organizations  in  establishing  contacts  with  service  men 
for  the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  adjustment  of  their  allotments, 
allowance  accounts,  compensation  and  claims,  and  the  reinstatement 
of  lapsed  or  canceled  insurance.  It  is  the  desire  of  the  Bureau  of 
War  Risk  Insurance  that  all  inquiries  of  this  nature  be  cleared 
through  the  home-service  sections  of  the  American  Red  Cross.  Up 
to  April  1,  1919,  the  American  Red  Cross  had  organized  in  Rhode 
Island  17  units  with  a  total  of  101  workers. — [Statement  prepared  by 
American  National  Red  Cross  for  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
November,  1919.] 
Public  Works. 

Reports  received  in  January,  1919,  cover  12  public 'building  and 
construction  projects  which  were  under  way  or  contemplated  in  the 
State,  aggregating  an  estiniated  value  of  $14,300,000.    Of  this  num- 


300       UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

— tt 

ber  4  were  waterworks  improvements,  estimated  to  cost  $11,010,000; 
2  were  hospitals,  estimated  to  cost  $900,000 ;  and  2  w^ere  water-front 
improvements,  estimated  to  cost  $1,210,000. — [Statistics  compiled  by 
Division  of  Public  Works  and  Construction  Developments,  U.  S. 
Dept.  of  Labor,  Apr.  17,  1919.] 

At  the  regular  meeting  of  the  penal  and  charitable  commission  the 
chairman  announced  that  work  on  plans  for  reconstruction  at  the 
State  institutions  will  start  soon.  The  administration  building  at  the 
State  hospital  for  the  insane  Avill  be  remodeled  at  a  cost  of  $50,000. 
Plans  for  the  new  house  of  correction,  not  yet  completed,  are  esti- 
mated to  cost  $350,000.  The  new  jail  calls  for  $370,000,  with  sani- 
tary and  electrical  improvements  amounting  to  $80,000. — [Tribune, 
Providence,  E.  I.,  May  2,  1919.] 
School  Gardens. 

School  gardens  are  being  conducted  in  five  cities  and  towns,  the 
total  present  enrollment  being  1,581. — [Prepared  from  material  fur- 
nished by  U.  S.  School  Garden  Army  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National 
Defense,  Nov  1,  1919.] 
Vocational  Reeducation  of  Disabled  Service  Men. 

In  accordance  with  section  2  of  the  Federal  vocational  rehabili- 
tation act  of  June  27,  1918,  as  amended  July  11,  1919,  arrangements 
had  been  made  up  to  October  25,  1919,  by  the  Federal  Board  for 
.Vocational  Education  with  four  educational  institutions  in  the  State 
for  the  reeducation  of  service  men  to  overcome  the  handicap  of  dis- 
abilities incurred  in  the  service.  A  total  of  36  such  men  have  been 
sent  to  these  institutions  for  training.  Arrangements  have  also 
been  made  by  this  board  w^ith  four  industrial  establishments  in  the 
State  whereby  the  latter  have  undertaken  to  train  five  disabled 
men. — [Compiled  from  statement  prepared  by  Rehabilitation  Divi- 
sion, Federal  Board  for  Vocational  Education.] 

SOUTH  CAROLINA. 

Council  of  Defense. 

The  State  council  of  defense  disbanded  completely  February  1, 
and  the  county  councils  as  w^ell.  In  some  cases  community  councils 
have  combined  with  chambers  of  commerce. — [Reply  from  State 
council  of  defense  to  questionnaire  of  the  Field  Division,  U.  S. 
Council  of  National  Defense,  June,  1919.] 
Employment. 

Early  in  March  the  governor  issued  a  statement  in  regard  to  the 
unemployment  situation.  He  said  that  the  unemployment  problem 
throughout  the  State  was  not  critical,  but  that  every  employer  must 
stand  ready  to  take  back  into  his  employ  those  who  left  their  tasks 
to  fight  for  the  liberty  of  the  Avorld.    In  order  to  show  in  a  material 


SOUTH   CAROLINA.  301 


way  appreciation  of  the  services  of  the  returning  men  and  to  protect 
tlie  State  from  sufferings  of  unemploj^ment,  in  short,  in  the  interest 
of  the  public  good,  he  appealed  to  the  people  of  the  State  to  reem- 
ploy their  former  employees,  expressing  his  confidence  that  those 
who  have  thought  of  the  matter  stand  anxious  to  do  this,  and  that 
others  will  be  of  the  same  mind  when  once  the  situation  is  called  to 
their  attention. 

When  Congress  failed  to  make  an  appropriation  to  continue  the 
United  States  Employment"  Service  the  State  director  enlisted  the 
cooperation  of  chambers  of  commerce  and  other  organizations,  in 
order  that  the  service  might  be  continued  in  South  Carolina.  Of 
the  six  employment  offices  in  the  State  the  three  larger  were  kept 
in  operation,  these  being  located  at  Charleston,  Columbia,  and  Green- 
ville. Arrangements  have  been  made  with  authorities  of  Camp  Jack- 
son whereby  lists  are  obtained  of  all  soldiers  who  are  to  be  discharged 
from  that  camp  several  days  in  advance  of  the  discharge.  The  names 
of  men  from  South  Carolina  which  are  included  in  these  lists  are 
selected  by  the  War  Camp  Community  Service  office  in  Columbia 
and  sent  to  county  papers  with  the  request  that  they  be  published. 
The  purpose  of  this  is  to  let  the  prospective  employers  know  the  num- 
ber of  men  who  will  soon  return  to  their  county.  This  j)lan  has 
proved  to  be  of  considerable  value. — [Letter  from  governor's  secre- 
tary to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  May  22,  1919.] 

Employment  offices  maintained  in  South  Carolina  by  the  Federal 
Government,  in  cooperation  with  State  and  local  organizations,  re- 
port that  during  the  six  months'  period  January  1  to  June  30,  1919, 
16,714  persons  were  registered  who  were  seeking  employment ;  60,566 
requests  for  employees  were  received ;  and  11,906  persons  were  placed 
by  these  offices.— [Compiled  from  statistics  furnished  by  U.  S.  Em- 
ployment Service,  Aug.  8,  1919.] 

Citations  have  been  issued  by  the  United  States  War  and  Navy  De- 
partments to  137  firms  in  the  State,  these  employers  having  assured 
the  departments  that  they  will  reemploy  every  returned  service  man 
Avho  formerly  worked  for  them  and  left  to  serve  in  the  Army  or  Navy 
during  the  World  AVar. — [Memorandum  from  assistant  to  Secretary 
of  War  in  the  replacement  of  service  men  to  civil  life,  to  U.  S. 
Council  of  National  Defense,  Nov.  20,  1919.] 

Highways. 

The  State  highway  commissioner  advises  that  the  proposed  State 
bond  issue  for  roads  has  been  rejected  by  the  State  legislature.  He 
states,  however,  that  there  will  be  about  $4,500,000  worth  of  road  and 
bridge  work  in  the  State  for  the  fiscal  year  ending  June  30,  1920. — 
[Bulletin  No.  46,  Highways  Transport  Committee,  U.  S.  Council  of 
National  Defense.] 


302        Uis^ITEl)  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

Special  appixjpriations  or  bond  issues  for  roads  in  11  counties  ag- 
gregating $5,980,000  have  been  made.  This  amount  does  not  includo 
the  usual  county  appropriation  for  road  maintenance. — [Letter  from 
governor's  secretary  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  May  22, 
1919.] 

The  South  Carolina  Landowners'  Association  have  adopted  a  pro- 
gram of  progress  in  which  they  advocate  the  immediate  building  of 
a  State-wide  highway  system. — [Letter  from  the  South  Carolina 
Landowners'  Association  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  May 
31,  1919.] 

On  October  1,  1919,  24  highway  projects  had  been  approved  in  the 
State,  involving  the  improvement  of  169.21  miles  of  road  at  a  total 
estimated  cost  of  $1,088,513.05,  of  which  the  Federal  Government  is 
requested  to  pay  $458,423.79  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the 
Federal-aid  road  act  of  July  11,  1916,  as  amended  by  the  act  of  Feb- 
ruary 28,  1919. — [Statement  prepai-ed  by  Bureau  of  Public  Roads, 
U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture.] 
Information  Service  for  Returned  Service  Men. 

The  local  branches  of  the  American  Red  Cross  are  cooperating 
with  other  organizations  in  establishing  contacts  with  service  men 
for  the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  adjustment  of  their  allotments, 
allowance  accounts,  compensation  and  claims,  and  the  reinstatement 
of  lapsed  or  canceled  insurance.  It  is  the  desire  of  the  Bureau  of 
War  Risk  Insurance  that  all  inquiries  of  this  nature  be  cleared 
through  the  home-service  sections  of  the  American  Red  Cross.  Up 
to  April  1,  1919,  the  American  Red  Cross  had  organized  in  South 
Carolina  164  units  with  a  total  of  318  workers. — [Statement  pre- 
pared by  American  National  Red  Cross  for  U.  S.  Council  of  National 
Defense,  November,  1919.] 
Land  Reclamation. 

The  program  of  progress  adopted  by  the  South  Carolina  Land- 
owners' Association  includes,  among  other  things,  the  extension  of 
the  Federal  reclamation  policy  of  swamp  and  cut-over  lands. — 
[Letter  from  the  South  Carolina  Landow^ners'  Association  to  U.  S. 
Council  of  National  Defense,  May  31,  1919.] 
Land  Settlement. 

A  comprehensive  State  and  Federal  policy  for  the  encouragement 
of  farm  ownership,  especially  for  the  benefit  of  soldiers,  sailors,  and 
industrial  employees,  is  advocated  in  the  program  of  progress 
adopted  by  the  South  Carolina  Landowners'  Association. — [Letter 
from  the  South  Carolina  Landowners'  Association  to  U.  S.  Council 
of  National  Defense,  May  31,  1919.] 

The  general  appropriation  bill  contains  a  provision  "that  the 
commissioner  of  agriculture,  commerce,  and  industries  be,  and  he 


SOUTH  CAROLINA.  303 

hereby  is,  authorized  to  cooperate  with  the  Federal  Government, 
through  its  agents,  in  the  so-called  soldier-settlement  work,  and  that 
the  said  commissioner  be  authorized  to  gather  statistics  and  to  do 
such  other  work  as  now  provided  by  law  for  the  purpose  of  getting 
options,  if  necessary,  upon  the  untenanted  lands  of  the  State  avail- 
able for  colonization  and  development."  The  governor  has  appointed 
a  commission  to  represent  the  State  in  soldier-settlement  matters. — 
[Memorandum  from  Reclamation  Service,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  the  In- 
terior to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  July  1,  1919.] 
Public  Works. 

Reports  received  in  January,  1919,  cover  20  public  building  and 
construction  projects  which  were  under  way  or  contemplated  in  the 
State  aggregating  an  estimated  value  of  $-23,060,000.  Of  this  number 
16  were  street  improvements,  estimated  to  cost  $25,700,000;  1  light- 
ing plant,  estimated  to  cost  $800,000;  and  1  water-front  improve- 
ment, esthnated  to  cost  $5,000,000. — [Statistics  compiled  by  Division 
of  Public  Works  and  Construction  Developments,  IT.  S.  Dept.  of 
Labor,  Apr.  17,  1919.] 

Appropriations  aggregating  $653,073  have  been  made  for  build- 
ings, improvements,  and  enlargements  at  State  institutions.  This 
sum  does  not  include  the  usual  county  appropriations  for  ordinary 
bridge  work,  and  neither  does  the  money  appropriated  by  the  State 
for  the  erection  of  buildings  represent  the  full  figure,  as  the  school 
districts  bear  a  part  of  the  cost  of  all  school  buildings. — [Letter  from 
governor's  secretary  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  May  22, 
1919.] 
School  Gardens. 

School  gardens  are  being  conducted  in  7  cities  and  towns,  the  total 
present  enrollment  in  the  State  being  3,100.  In  Columbia  during  the 
fiscal  year  ending  June  30, 1919,  there  were  1,200  children  enrolled. — 
[Prepared  from  material  furnished  by  U.  S.  School  Garden  Army  to 
U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Nov.  1,  1919.] 
Tax  Exemption  for  Service  Men. 

By  an  act  approved  in  1919,  the  county  treasurer  of  each  county 
is  authorized  to  rebate  the  poll  tax  and  road  tax,  and  all  towns  and 
cities  are  authorized  to  rebate  the  street  tax,  until  January,  1920,  for 
each  soldier  and  sailor  who  was  in  service  during  the  World  War. — 
[Information  Bureau,  American  National  Red  Cross,  Compendium 
Change  No.  117.] 
Vocational  Reeducation  of  Disabled  Service  Men. 

In  accordance  with  section  2  of  the  Federal  vocational  rehabili- 
tation act  of  June  27,  1918,  as  amended  July  11,  1919,  arrangements 
had  been  made  up  to  October  25,  1919,  by  the  Federal  Board  for 
Vocational  Education  with  seven  educational  institutions  in  the 
State  for  the  reeducation  of  service  men  to  overcome  the  handicap  of 


304        UNITED  STATES  IIEADJUSTME:^?T  AND  EECONSTRUCTION. 

disabilities  incurred  in  the  service.  A  total  of  45  such  men  have 
been  sent  to  these  institutions  for  training.  Arrangements  have 
also  been  made  by  this  board  with  two  industrial  establishments  in 
the  State  whereby  the  latter  have  undertaken  to  train  two  disabled 
men. — [Compiled  from  statement  prepared  by  Rehabilitation  Divi- 
sion, Federal  Board  for  Vocational  Education.] 

SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

"  Back-to-School  "  Drive., 

Addresses  were  made  to  eighth-gi^ade  pupils  on  the  value  of  going 
on  with  their  schooling.  Personal  letters  on  the  subject  were  sent  to 
parents. — [Report  of  child  conservation  section  of  the  Field  Division 
to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Oct.  1,  1918,  to  July  1,  1919.] 
Council  of  Defense. 

The  State  council  of  defense  has  not  been  formally  dissolved  but 
probably  will  be  in  the  near  future.  Community  councils  are  not 
being  organized.  In  cooperation  with  the  immigration  commis- 
sioner, the  State  council  is  giving  all  assistance  possible  to  the  em- 
ployment of  discharged  men. — [Letter  from  secretar}',  State  council 
of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  June  25,  1919.] 
Education  of  Returned  Service  Men. 

An  act,  approved  March  11,  provides  free  tuition  for  service  mei\  in 
any  educational  institution  in  the  State  for  which  they  are  qualified 
to  attend.  The  sum  of  $15,000  is  appropriated  for  meeting  the  pro- 
visions of  the  act. — [Laws  of  South  Dakota,  1919,  ch.  129.] 

Employment. 

Very  little  unemployment  exists  in  the  State.  The  great  difficulty 
is  to  get  men  to  do  the  work,  and  the  main  activity  of  the  State  indus- 
trial commission  at  present  is  getting  month  farm  hands. — [Letter 
from  State  industrial  commissioner  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National 
Defense,  June  23, 1919.] 

Employment  offices  maintained  in  South  Dakota  by  the  Federal 
Government  in  cooperation  Avith  State  and  local  organizations,  report 
that  durng  the  six  months'  period  January  1  to  June  30,  1919, 
9,138  persons  were  registered  who  were  seeking  employment;  10,802 
requests  for  employees  were  received ;  and  7,744  persons  were  placed 
by  these  offices. — [Compiled  from  statistics  furnished  by  U.  S.  Em- 
ployment Service,  Aug.  8,  1919.] 

Citations  have  been  issued  by  the  United  States  War  and  Navy 
Departments  to  89  firms  in  the  State,  these  employers  having  assured 
the  departments  that  they  will  reemploy  every  returned  service  man 
who  formerly  worked  for  them  and  left  to  serve  in  the  Army  or 
Navy  during  the  World  War. — [Memorandum  from  assistant  to 
Secretary  of  War  in  the  replacement  of  service  men  to  civil  life,  to 
U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Nov.  20,  1919.] 


SOUTH  DAKOTA.  305 

English  Language  in  Schools. 

An  act,  approved  March  5,  provides  for  the  use  of  the  English  lan- 
guage exclusively  in  the  lower  grades  of  the  States  schools. — [Laws 
of  South  Dakota,  1919,  ch.  168.] 

Highways. 

The  highway  engineer  of  the  State  advises  that  the  legislature, 
which  adjourned  on  March  9,  passed  a  bill  providing  for  a 
$6,000,000  bond  issue,  the  proceeds  of  w^hich  are  to  be  used  for  road 
construction  purposes. — [Bulletin  No.  47,  Highways  Transport  Com- 
mittee, U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense.] 

The  legislature  passed  a  highway  law  which  gives  the  newly  cre- 
ated highway  commission  a  free  hand  in  road  building.  The  com- 
mission has  laid  out  a  5,000-mile  system  of  State  roads,  and  upon 
this  prospective  system  $11,250,000  will  be  spent.  The  counties  of 
the  State  will  not  be  called  upon  to  contribute  anything  toward  the 
State  system  of  roads.  The  money  has  been  proportioned  to  each 
county  and  will  be  expended  on  highway  work  in  the  counties. — 
[Laws  of  South  Dakota,  1919,  ch.  222.] 

On  October  1,  1919,  18  highway  projects  had  been  approved  in  the 
State,  involving  the  improvement  of  234.18  miles  of  road  at  a  total 
estimated  cost  of  $1,094,116.62,  of  which  the  Federal  Government  is 
requested. to  pay  $525,250.71  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  tho 
Federal-aid  road  act  of  July  11,  1916,  as  amended  by  the  act  of  Feb- 
ruary 28,  1919. — [Statement  prepared  by  Bureau  of  Public  Koads, 
U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture.] 
Information  Service  for  Returned  Service  Men. 

The  local  branches  of  the  American  Red  Cross  are  cooperating 
with  other  organizations  in  establishing  contacts  with  service  men 
for  the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  adjustment  of  their  allotments, 
allowance  accounts,  compensation  and  claims,  and  the  reinstatement 
of  lapsed  or  canceled  insurance.  It  is  the  desire  of  the  Bureau  of 
War  Risk  Insurance  that  all  inquiries  of  this  nature  be  cleared 
through  the  home-service  sections  of  the  American  Red  Cross.  Up 
to  April  1,  1919,  the  American  Red  Cross  had  organized  in  South 
Dakota  334  units  with  a  total  of  924  workers. — [Statement  prepared 
by  American  National  Red  Cross  for  U.  S.  Council  of  National 
Defense,  November,  1919.] 
Land  Settlement. 

A  law  has  been  enacted  by  the  legislature  appropriating  $100,000 
and  permitting  a  bond  issue  of  $1,000,000  for  cooperating  wdth  the 
United  States  in  the  work  of  settling  soldiers  upon  lands. — [Laws 
of  South  Dakota,  1919,  ch.  315.] 

In  passing  a  law  to  aid  soldiers  to  obtain  farms  in  the  State,  South 
Dakota  extended  the  same  right  to  civilian  settlers  who  will  comply 
with  the  same  terms.    It  is  proposed  to  devote  some  of  the  school 
134286°— 20 20 


306        UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

lands  in  the  northwestern  part  of  the  State  to  the  creation  of  farm 
unit«,  and  if  needed  additional  Indian  land  will  be  purchased  for 
this  purpose.  The  soldier  who  wishes  to  buy  land  will  be  asked 
onl}^  a  10  per  cent  cash  j)ayment,  with  the  balance  running  for  30 
years.  The  State  proposes  to  improve  some  of  the  farms  by  break- 
ing- the  land;  building  fences,  houses,  and  barns;  stocking  with  ma- 
chinery and  live  stock;  and  then  offering  the  complete  farm  homes 
to  young  men,  soldiers  or  others,  who  have  had  farm  experience  and 
are  able  to  pay  down  20  per  cent  of  the  cost. — [The  Farmer,  St. 
Paul,  Minn.,  Mar.  22,  1919.] 

Moratorium  for  Service  Men. 

An  act  of  March  12,  1919,  grants  a  moratorium  of  one  year  from 
date  of  discharge  for  all  soldiers  and  sailors  of  the  United  States 
who  were  engaged  in  the  present  war,  from  payment  of  any  bill 
of  exchange  or  any  negotiable  instalments  or  any  other  payment  in 
pursuance  of  any  contract,  except  contracts  contained  in  life  in- 
surance policies. — [Information  Bureau,  American  National  Red 
Cross,  Compendium  Change  No.  117.] 

Preference  to  Service  Men  in  Public  Employment. 

An  act,  apiDroved  Februarly  15,  1919,  provides  that  honorably  dis- 
charged soldiers  and  sailors  of  the  United  States  who  served  in  the 
Civil  War,  Spanish-American  War,  or  the  World  War  shall  be  pre- 
ferred for  appointment  in  all  positions  open  in  every  department  and 
upon  all  public  works  of  the  State  and  all  of  the  cities,  towns,  and 
villages. — [Information  Bureau,  American  National  Red  Cross,  Com- 
pendium Change  No.  117.] 

Public  Works. 

Reports  received  in  January,  1919,  cover  47  public  building  and 
construction  projects  which  were  under  way  or  contemplated  in  the 
State,  aggregating  an  estimated  value  of  $3,300,000.  Of  this  num- 
ber 15  were  street  improvements,  estimated  to  cost  $745,000 ;  7  were 
sewers,  estimated  to  cost  $760,000;  and  9  were  schools,  estimated  to 
cost  $530,000. — [Statistics  compiled  by  Division  of  Public  Works 
and  Construction  Developments,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor,  Apr.  17, 
1919.] 

School  Gardens. 

School  gardens  are  being  conducted  in  20  cities  and  towns,  the 
total  present  enrollment  in  the  State  being  13,986.  In  Jamestown 
during  the  fiscal  year  ending  June  30,  1919,  when  377  children  were 
enrolled,  the  value  of  the  school-garden  products  amounted  to  $4,421 
or  $11.72  per  capita. — [Prepared  from  material  furnished  by  U.  S. 
School  Garden  Army  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  No^^  1, 
1919.] 


SOUTH  DAKOTA.  307 

State  Ownership  of  Business  Enterprises. 

A  special  commmission,  appointed  by  the  legislature  two  years 
ago  to  investigate  the  advisability^  of  the  State  engaging  in  terminal 
elevators  and  x^acking  j)lants,  has  made  its  report  to  the  present  legis- 
lature. The  report  goes  into  detail  as  to  why  it  would  be  inadvisable 
for  the  State  to  attempt  to  take  up  activities  along  either  of  these 
lines  under  existing  conditions.  It  further  recommends  that  this 
State  await  the  outcome  of  the  steps  being  already  taken  by  North 
Dakota  along  this  line,  and  determine  whether  they  work  out  as  suc- 
cessfully in  practice  as  they  do  in  theory.  The  commission  recom- 
mends that  the  Federal  Government  take  over  the  control  of  all  cars 
used  in  the  transportation  of  meat  animals  and  all  refrigerator  cars 
and  handle  them  as  a  Government  monopoly,  taking  them  out  of  i:)ri- 
vate  hands  entirely.  It  also  reconnnends  that  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment take  control  of  the  principal  stockyards  of  the  country  and 
treat  them  as  freight  depots,  to  be  operated  under  such  conditions  as 
will  insure  open  competitive  markets,  with  uniform  scales  of  charges 
for  all  service  performed,  and  the  construction  of  such  other  yards 
as  the  country  may  develop.  They  advise  further  that  the  Federal 
Government  acquire  such  branch  houses,  wholesale  markets,  and  cold- 
storage  i)lants  as  are  necessary  to  provide  facilities  for  the  market- 
ing and  storage  of  food  products  in  the  principal  centers  of  food  dis- 
tribution and  consumption,  supplementing  these  by  central  whok^sale 
jaarkets  at  all  terminal  points  of  the  country,  with  facilities  open  to 
all  upon  payment  of  just  and  fair  charges. — [Christian  Science  Moni- 
tor. Boston.  Mass.,  Mar.  21.  1919.] 

Tax  Exemption  for  Service  Men. 

An  act,  approved  March  12,  1919.  provides  exemption  from  taxa- 
tion upon  homesteads  not  exceeding  1  acre  in  extent  if  outside  a  town 
plot,  and  of  other  real  or  personal  property  not  exceeding  $5,000  in 
value  within  the  State,  for  one  year  after  discharge  of  any  soldier 
or  sailor  of  the  United  States  who  was  engaged  in  the  present  war. — • 
[Information  Bureau,  American  National  Red  Cross,  Compendium 
Change  No.  117.] 
Vocational  Reeducation  of  Disabled  Service  Men. 

In  accordance  with  section  2  of  the  Federal  vocational  rehabili- 
tation act  of  June  27,  1918,  as  amended  July  11,  1919,  arrangements 
had  been  made  up  to  October  25,  1919,  by  the  Federal  Board  for 
Vocational  Education  with  an  educational  institution  in  the  State 
for  the  reeducation  of  service  men  to  overcome  the  handicap  of 
disabilities  incurred  in  the  service.  Three  such  men  have  been  sent 
to  this  institution  for  training. — [Compiled  from  statement  pre- 
pared by  Rehabilitation  Division,  Federal  Board  for  Vocational 
Education.] 


308       UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

TENNESSEE. 

Americanization. 

As  an  Americanization  measure,  the  State  council  of  defense  will 
appeal  through  editorials  in  all  the  foreign-language  papers  of  the 
State  to  the  readers  of  the  papers  to  learn  English. — [Journal, 
Greenwood,  S.  C,  June  7,  1918.] 

The  State  council  of  defense  has  conducted  a  campaign  of  educa- 
tion through  the  press  and  the  department  of  public  instruction. 
The  percentage  of  foreign  element  in  the  State  is  very  low,  and  the 
English  language  is  the  exclusive  language  of  the  public  schools. 
Under  the  present  arrangement  a  speech  on  Americanism  and 
patriotism  is  delivered  once  each  week  in  every  school  in  Tennessee. — 
[Letter  from  chairman,  State  council  of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of 
National  Defense,  May  14,  1919.] 

Assistance  for  Service  Men. 

In  every  county  seat  in  the  State  there  has  been  established  a  legal 
advisory  board  whose  members  give  free,  such  legal  advice  as  any 
soldier  may  need.  The  home-service  section  of  the  American  Red 
Cross  has  one  or  more  representatives  in  every  county,  and  this  or- 
ganization has  facilities  to  assist  materially  the  soldier  in  his  transfer 
from  military  to  civil  life. — [Letter  from  Federal  field  secretary  of 
Tennessee  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  24,  1919.] 
"  Back-to-School "  Drive. 

When  the  "  Back-to-school "  drive  was  launched  it  was  soon  real- 
ized that  schools  were  very  much  overcrowded.  The  public  recog- 
nizes the  situation,  and  by  the  next  term  it  is  thought  sufficient  space 
will  be  provided.  Added  night  schools  have  been  opened,  also  part- 
time  classes  started. — [Report  of  child  conservation  section  of  the 
Field  Division  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Oct.  1,  1918,  to 
July  1,  1919.] 

Building  Activity. 

Tennessee  is  on  the  threshold  of  an  unprecedented  construction 
era.  Business  houses,  residences,  schools,  and  factories  are  preparing 
for  construction.  The  University  of  Tennessee  at  Knoxville,  the 
Tennessee  Polytechnic  Institute  at  Cookeville,  and  the  University 
of  the  South  at  Sewanee,  are  three  of  the  largest  schools  contem- 
plating immediate  improvements  and  new  buildings  on  a  large  scale. 
During  the  past  two  months  there  has  been  an  unprecedented  demand 
for  farms,  and  they  have  been  selling  rapidly  at  enormously  increased 
values.  There  was  a  meeting  of  the  Cumberland  River  Improvement 
Association  held  in  Nashville,  which  was  atteiided  by  the  Congress- 
men through  whose  district  the  Cumberland  River  flows,  the  Federal 
engineers,  the  governor,  and  the  chairman  of  the  State  council  of 
defense.    It  was  urged  that  the  completion  of  the  lock  and  dam  sys- 


TENNESSEE.  309 

tern  of  the  upper  Cumberland  should  commence  at  once,  and  assur- 
ances were  given  that  this  work  would  be  well  under  way  in  the  near 
future.  This  will  open  one  of  the  most  fertile  territories  in  agricul- 
tural and  mineral  products  as  well  as  the  distribution  of  large  sums 
for  internal  improvements. — [Letter  from  chairman,  State  council 
of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  May  14,  1919.) 
Business  Readjustment. 

The  Tennessee  Manufacturers'  Association  is  very  optimistic  over 
the  prospects  for  good  business  during  the  reconstruction  period. 
Their  products  are  in  great  demand,  and  they  are  preparing  for  in- 
creased output.  There  will  be  no  reduction  of  wages,  and  all  return- 
ing soldiers  will  get  back  their  former  jobs. — [Sentinel,  Knoxville, 
Tenn.,  Jan.  4,  1919.] 
Community  Organization. 

In  a  membership  campaign  to  facilitate  greater  responsibility  for 
community   conditions,  the  Knoxville  Chamber  of   Commerce  in- 
creased its  membership   from  400  to   1,400   in   a   single  month. — 
[Tribune,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  8,  1919.] 
Council  of  Defense. 

The  organization  of  the  State  council  of  defense  has  been  so 
thorough  and  effective  that  it  has  been  deemed  advisable  to  continue 
the  organization  in  full  force  and  effect  until  such  time  as  all  neces- 
sity for  its  efforts  has  been  met. — [Letter  from  chairman.  State  coun- 
cil of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  May  14, 1919.] 
Employment. 

As  a  result  of  a  conference  with  the  United  States  Employment 
Service,  the  State  council  of  defense  has  arranged  to  assist  in  em- 
ployment work  wherever  cooperation  is  necessary. —  [Telegram  from 
St-ate  council  of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar. 
15,  1919.] 

The  chairman  of  the  council  of  defense  in  each  county  is  acting  as 
a  bureau  of  information  for  returned  service  men,  and  is  also  charged 
with  the  duty  of  assisting  soldiers  in  securing  employment. — [Letter 
from  Federal  field  secretary  of  Tenneessee  to  U.  S.  Council  of 
National  Defense,  Mar.  24,  1919.] 

The  governor  and  the  adjutant  general  are  at  the  head  of  a  move- 
ment to  secure  employment  for  returned  soldiers.  All  returned  men 
desirous  of  help  are  asked  to  communicate  with  the  adjutant  general, 
giving  name,  address,  age,  qualifications,  etc. ;  and  the  manufacturers 
and  employers  are  asked  to  state  their  needs. — [Tennessean,  Nash- 
ville, Tenn.,  May  7,  1919.] 

Tennessee  will  be  asked  to  make  an  appropriation  sufficient  to  main- 
tain six  employment  bureaus  in  the  State  until  Congress  meets  and 
makes  the  necessary  provision.  There  are  now  but  2  bureaus  left  in 
Tennessee  out  of  the  11  which  formerly  existed,  1  in  Nashville  and 


310       UXITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

the  other  in  Memphis.  As  1,700  soldiers  are  expected  to  return 
shortly,  the  need  for  such  bureaus  is  urgent,  and  it  is  thought  that  by 
the  reestablishment  of  1  more  bureaus,  1  each  at  Knoxville,  Chatta- 
nooga, Bristol,  and  Jackson,  the  situation  can  be  met.  Every  county 
council  of  defense  in  the  State  is  constituted  an  emi)loyment  bureau 
and  doing  everything  in  its  power  to  place  the  men. — [Letter  from 
chairman.  State  council  of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  De- 
fense, May  14,  1919.] 

All  returned  soldiers  who  were  formerly  employed  have  been  given 
back  their  old  jobs,  but  there  has  not  been  enough  additional  em- 
ployment to  take  care  of  returned  soldiers  who  heretofore  were  too 
young  to  work  or  were  in  school. — [Letter  from  chairman.  State 
council  of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  May  14, 
1919.] 

Employment  offices  maintained  in  Tennessee  by  the  Federal  Gov- 
ernment in  cooperation  with  State  and  local  organizations  report 
that  during  the  six  months'  period,  Januarv^  1  to  June  30,  1919,  41,729 
persons  were  registered  who  were  seeking  employment;  39,387  re- 
quests for  employees  were  received;  and  28,281  persons  were  placed 
by  these  offices. — [Compiled  from  statistics  furnished  by  IT.  S.  Em- 
ploj^ment  Service,  Aug.  8,  1919.] 

Citations  have  been  issued  by  the  United  States  War  and  Navy 
Departments  to  345  firms  in  the  State,  these  employers  having  as- 
sured the  departments  that  they  w^ill  reemploy  every  returned  serv- 
ice man  who  formerly  worked  for  them  and  left  to  serve  in  the 
Army  or  Navy  during  the  World  War. — [Memorandum  from  assist- 
ant to  Secretary  of  War  in  the  replacement  of  service  men  to  civil 
life,  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Nov.  20, 1919.] 

Free  employment  service  for  soldiers  and  sailors  has  been  insti- 
tuted as  a  part  of  the  work  of  the  War  Camp  Community  Service 
information  booth  in  Chattanooga  and  Knoxville,  and  many  men 
have  been  placed  in  good  positions. — [Report  of  W^ar  Camp  Com- 
munity Service  for  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  August, 
1919.] 

Notwithstanding  that  there  are  no  funds  to  continue  the  Federal 
employment  bureau  at  Jackson,  the  director  has  announced  that  a 
temporary  office  will  be  opened  to  obtain  employment  for  returning 
soldiers,  and  that  he  will  give  his  time  without  cost  to  the  Govern- 
ment.— [Banner,  Nashville,  Tenn.,  Mar.  15,  1919.] 

The  Memphis  Chamber  of  Commerce  is  undertaking  to  raise  a 
fund  of  $1,800  for  the  benefit  of  the  employment  bureau  in  that 
city.  This  amount  is  necessary  to  make  up  the  reduced  appropriatiorx 
resulting  from  the  failure  of  Congress  to  provide  funds  for  the 
work  of  the  Federal  employment  service.    The  bureau  at  Memphis 


TENNESSEE.  31 1 

has  been  doing  good  work  in  directing  returned  service  men  to  suit 
able  employment. — [Commercial  Appeal,  Memphis,  Tenn.,  Mar.  20, 
1919.] 
Highways. 

An  inspection  of  the  roads  of  the  State  has  been  made  by  a  joint 
connnittee  of  the  legislature  in  connection  with  a  proposed  bond 
issue  of  $50,000,000  for  road-construction  purposes.  The  bill  has 
passed  two  readings,  both  in  the  house  and  senate,  and  will  be  up 
for  final  consideration  Avithin  a  short  time. — [Bulletin  No.  46,  High- 
ways Transport  Committee,  U.  S!  Council  of  National  Defense.] 

The  State  council  of  defense  urged  the  construction  of  highways 
and  strongly  advocated  the  creation  of  a  permanent  road  system  in 
the  State.  The  legislature  created  a  State  highway  board,  consist- 
ing of  three  qualified  men,  whose  duty  will  be  to  lay  out  and  super- 
vise the  construction  of  a  permanent  system  of  highways.  There  is 
at  present  available  for  this  purpose  the  expenditure  of  about  $12,- 
000,000.  The  fund  will  be  increased  as  the  requirements  justify. 
The  present  system  will  give  Tennessee  a  system  of  highways  second 
to  no  State. — [Letter  from  chairman.  State  council  of  defense  to 
U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  May  14,  1919.] 

On  October  1,  1919,  10  highway  projects  had  been  approved  in  the 
States,  involving  the  improvement  of  10G.42  miles  of  road  at  a  total 
estimated  cost  of  $1,167,735.32,  of  which  the  Federal  Government  is 
requested  to  pay  $567,781.55  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the 
Federal  aid  road  act  of  July  11,  1916,  as  amtoded  by  the  act  of 
February  28,  1919. — [Statement  prepared  by  Bureau  of  Public 
Roads,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture.] 
Information  Service  for  Eetumed  Service  Men. 

The  local  branches  of  the  American  Red  Cross  are  cooperating 
with  other  organizations  in  establishing  contacts  with  service  men 
for  the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  adjustment  of  their  allotments, 
allowance  accounts,  compensation  aijd  claims,  and  the  reinstatement 
•of  lapsed  or  canceled  insurance.  It  is  the  desire  of  the  Bureau  of 
War  Risk  Insurance  that  all  inquiries  of  this  nature  be  cleared 
through  the  home-service  sections  of  the  American  Red  Cross.  Up 
to  April  1,  1919,  the  American  Red  Cross  had  organized  in  Tennes- 
see 249  units  with  a  total  of  473  workers. — [Statement  prepared  by 
American  National  Red  Cross  for  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
November,  1919.] 
Land  Settlement. 

-  The  State  legislature  enacted  a  bill  providing  for  cooperation 
with  the  Federal  Government  in  soldier  settlements.  Under  the 
provisions  of  the  act  the  governor  has  appointed  a  soldier-settle- 
ment commission. — [Memorandum   from  Reclamation   Service,  U. 


312       UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

S.  Dept.  of  the  Interior  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  July 
1,  1919.] 

The  Memphis  Chamber  of  Commerce  has  appointed  a  committee 
to  study  the  question  of  settling  returned  soldiers  on  desirable  farm 
lands.  It  is  expected  that  many  returned  soldiers  will  be  interested 
in  the  movement,  and  that  with  so  much  rich  farm  land  surround- 
ing Memphis  it  should  offer  a  center  for  locating  these  men. — 
[Publication  of  the  Memphis  Chamber  of  Commerce,  January, 
1919.]  .     ■ 

The  Nashville  Commercial  Club  and  its  soldier-settlement  board 
have  secured  options  on  more  than  100,000  acres  of  land  in  the 
State,  mostly  cut-over  lands,  for  the  purpose  of  providing  farms 
for  soldiers. — [Tennessean  and  American,  Nashville,  Tenn.,  May  29, 
1919.] 
Public  Works. 

Reports  received  in  January,  1919,  cover  29  public  building  and 
construction  projects  which  were  under  way  or  contemplated  in  the 
State,  aggregating  an  estimated  value  of  $6,125,000.  Of  this  num- 
ber 10  were  street  improvements,  estimated  to  cost  $1,400,000 ;  4  were 
hospitals,  estimated  to  cost  $1,350,000;  1  waterfront  improvement, 
estimated  to  cost  $1,800,000;  and  3  were  schools,  estimated  to  cost 
$635,000. — [Statistics  compiled  by  Division  of  Public  Works  and 
Construction  Developments,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor,  Apr.  17,  1919.] 

A  bond  issue  of  $1,000,000  was  authorized  by  vote  of  the  people 
in  Davidson  County,  which  amount,  together  with  $1,000,000  fur- 
nished by  the  State,  will  be  used  for  establishing  a  memorial  square 
in  Nashville.  The  capitol  annex  and  other  public  buildings  are  to 
be  erected  in  the  square  which  adjoins  the  capitol  grounds. — [Post, 
Washington,  D.  C,  Sept.  26,  1919.] 
Reconstruction  Recommendations. 

At  a  conference  held  at  Memphis  of  agricultural  and.  industrial 
officials  of  railroads  from  all  parts  of  the  South,  resolutions  were 
adopted  asking  Congress  to  provide  legislation  to  assist  returning 
soldiers  and  sailors  to  obtain  land.  In  addition.  States  were  asked 
to  aid  in  publicity  campaigns  to  induce  homeseekers  to  settle  on 
farms  and  communities,  and  county  agricultural  agents  were  urged 
to  ascertain  the  needs  of  new  settlers  and  assist  them  by  providing 
information  as  to  proper  farming  methods.  It  was  decided  to 
institute  a  system  to  improve  marketing  conditions  for  farmers,  in- 
cluding a  Nation-wide  producers'  and  consumers'  bulletin  service, 
and  that  railroad  agriculture  agents  should  cooperate  with  all 
organizations,  officials,  and  interests  working  for  increased  and  more 
economical  production  on  farms. — [Constitution,  Atlanta,  Ga.,  Apr. 
5,  1919.] 


TEXAS.  313 

School  Gardens. 

School  gardens  are  being  conducted  in  35  cities  and  towns,  the  total 
present  enrolhnent  in  the  State  being  20,881.  In  Chattanooga, 
during  the  fiscal  year  ending  June  30,  1919,  when  5,000  children  were 
enrolled,  the  value  of  the  school-garden  products  amounted  to 
$51,537  or  $10.30  per  capita.— [Prepared  from  material  furnished  by 
U.  S.  School  Garden  Army  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
Nov.  1,  1919.] 
Vocational  Reeducation  of  Disabled  Service  Men. 

In  accordance  with  section  2  of  the  Federal  vocational  rehabili- 
tation act  of  June  27,  1918,  as  amended  July  11,  1919,  arrangements 
had  been  made  up  to  October  25,  1919,  by  the  Federal  Board  for 
Vocational  Education  with  17  educational  institutions  in  the  State 
for  the  reeducation  of  service  men  to  overcome  the  handicap  of  dis- 
abilities incurred  in  the  service.  A  total  of  105  such  men  have  been 
sent  to  these  institutions  for  training.  Arrangements  have  also 
been  made  by  this  board  w^ith  11  industrial  establishments  in  the 
State  whereby  the  later  have  undertaken  to  train  11  disabled  men. — 
[Compiled  from  statement  prepared  by  Rehabilitation  Division, 
Federal  Board  for  Vocational  Education.] 

TEXAS. 

Americanization. 

Americanization  work  is  urged  by  the  State  council  of  defense 
upon  the  local  committees  of  men  and  women  to  be  carried  on  by 
means  of  establishing  English  classes  in  night  schools,  factories, 
and  settlements.  The  council  is  endeavoring  to  reach  foreign-born 
women  by  means  of  extension  work  in  the  way  of  cooking  and  simi- 
lar classes  and  of  contact  with  them  in  their  homes.  It  is  also  seek- 
ing to  arouse  interest  among  aliens  in  the  library  facilities  of  the 
communities  and  to  reach  foreign-born  soldiers  through  employment 
bureaus  and  through  extension  work  by  speakers  and  the  press. 
Local  committees  are  urged  to  place  the  w^ork  of  Americanization 
upon  a  permanent  footing  so  that  it  will  become  an  established 
activity. — [Circular  issued  by  State  council  of  defense  to  local  coun- 
cils of  defense,  Jan.  18,  1919.] 

The  State  council  of  defense  has  requested  the  county  councils  to 
obtain  the  cooperation  of  the  school  authorities  in  the  efforts  of  the 
Bureau  of  Naturalization  to  make  foreign-born  residents  familiar 
with  the  English  language.  The  State  council  of  defense  is  also 
urging  that  night  schools  be  established  wherever  possible. — [News 
letter  of  State  council  of  defense,  Feb.  14,  1919.] 

The  students  in  the  night  school  for  foreigners,  in  order  to  keep 
the  classes  open  during  June  and  July,  paid  the  teachers  out  of  their 
own  pockets. — [Compiled  from  forthcoming  report  of  -director  of 


314        UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT   AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

citizenship  to  Commissioner  of  Naturalization,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor, 
1920.] 

Twelve  nationalities  are  now  represented  in  the  International 
Club  of  Dallas,  which  has  been  in  operation  for  three  months.  Men 
from  the  various  racial  elements  of  the  city's  population  organized 
the  federation  to  promote  a  clearer  understanding  of  the  national 
aspirations  and  policies  of  the  countries  of  the  world.  The  club  is 
also  to  devote  time  and  thought  to  a  study  of  the  arts,  sciences,  cus- 
toms, manners,  and  general  history  of  the  different  nations.  A  close 
relationship  with  the  Americanization  Association  for  International 
Conciliation  is  maintained,  copies  of  the  literature  of  that  body  being 
added  monthly  to  the  club's  library.  Among  the  members  are  men 
from  Japan,  Italy,  France,  Switzerland,  Mexico,  Russia,  Serbia, 
Sweden,  Holland,  England,  Greece,  and  the  United  States.  Tho 
publication  of  a  pamphlet  giving  details  of  the  club  and  its  organi- 
zation is  contemplated  for  distribution  in  other  cities  interested  in  a 
like  movement.  Officers  of  the  club  believe  a  chain  of  affiliated  bodies 
in  the  larger  cities  is  feasible  and  have  offered  their  services  to  those 
wishing  to  make  such  an  extension. — [Americanization,  U.  S.  Dept. 
of  the  Interior,  May  1,  1919.] 

Assistance  for  Service  Men. 

All  county  councils  of  defense  in  the. State  have  arranged  to  give 
free  legal  advice,  where  needed,  to  returned  service  men. — [Telegram 
from  State  council  of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
Mar.  24,  1919.] 

The  Texas  Chamber  of  Commerce  will  meet  in  Waco  to  plan  for 
cooperation  between  the  commercial  organizations  of  the  State  and 
the  United  States  War  Department  in  taking  care  of  the  men  dis- 
charged from  the  service.  The  department  has  telegraphed  the  State 
chamber  of  its  interest  in  the  movement. — [Chronicle,  Houston,  Tex., 
Apr.  8,  1919.] 

The  State  tuberculosis  sanatorium,  through  its  superintendent  and 
its  publicity  director,  has  been  making  a  special  effort  to  get  in 
touch  with  soldiers  and  sailors  disabled  through  tuberculosis.  About 
500  members  of  the  military  forces  have  been  furnished  with  special 
information  on  tuberculosis,  and  of  this  number  some  50  cases  have 
actually  been  treated  at  the  sanatorium  during  the  past  two  years, 
and  as  many  as  75  or  100  induced  to  take  treatment  elsewhere.  Dis- 
charged soldiers  are  required  to  make  formal  application  for  entrance, 
as  are  other  citizens  of  the  State,  and  are  not  given  preferential 
treatment,  it  being  impossible  to  do  so  owing  to  the  State  laws 
governing  the  institution. — [Star-Telegram,  Fort  Worth,  Tex.,  May 
2, 1919.] 


TEXAS.  315 

**  Back-to-School "  Drive. 

The  "Back-to-sclioor'  drive  is  being  actively  carried  on  in  Texas. 

[Letter  from  State  division  of  the  Women's  Committee  to  U.  S. 
Council  of  National  Defense,  Dec.  31,  1918.] 

A  school  welfare  division  in  the  child  welfare  department  was 
created  for  the  "Back-to-school"  drive  and  a  chairman  especially 
appointed.  A  pamphlet,  Scope-of-Work,  for  the  campaign  was 
printed  and  distributed  to  3,000  interested  persons.  When  the 
"  Back-to-school "  drive  was  launched  it  was  soon  realized  that 
schools  were  very  much  overcrowded.  The  public  recognizes  the 
situation  and  by  the  next  term  it  is  thought  sufficient  space  will  be 
provided. — [Report  of  child  conservation  section  of  the  Field  Divi- 
sion to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Oct.  1,  1918,  to  July  1, 
1919.] 
Bonuses  for  Service  Men. 

A  measure  is  now  pending  before  the  legislature  in  special  session 
to  provide  a  bond  issue  of  $50,000,000  for  the  purpose  of  giving  to 
each  Texas  man  who  served  with  the  armed  forces  of  the  United 
States  during  the  war  with  Germany,  a  cash  bonus  of  $300. — [Chris- 
tian Science  Monitor,  Boston,  Mass.,  July  25,  1919.] 
Community  Organization. 

Steps  have  been  taken  to  bring  before  the  legishiturc  the  establish- 
ment of  an  interdepartmental  bureau  on  community  organization. 
The  Texas  University  extension  department  and  the  Agricultural  and 
.Meclianical  College  of  Texas  are  regarded  as  agencies  in  the  State 
which  deal  sufficiently  with  communit}^  organization  to  warrant  their 
pjirticipation  in  this  Avork.  The  State  division  of  the  Woman's  Com- 
mittee, United  States  Council  of  National  Defense,  is  now"  working 
toward  permanent  community  organization. — [Reply  from  State 
council  of  defense  to  questionnaire  of  the  Field  Division,  U.  S. 
Council  of  National  Defense,  Feb.  20,  1919.] 

The  State  council  of  defense  has  informed  the  county  units  of  a 
plan  by  which  the  community  councils  would  be  utilized  by  the 
United  States  Department  of  Agriculture  in  carrying  out  a  program 
of  organizing  rural  communities  into  community  councils  of  agricul- 
ture. Under  this  plan  the  conmiunity  councils,  in  addition  to  their 
agricultural  work,  would  be  able  to  consider  any  matter  pertaining 
to  the  welfare  and  upbuilding  of  the  locality,  morally,  socially,  or 
from  an  economic,  industrial,  or  agricultural  standpoint. — [Circular 
letter  from  State  council  of  defense  to  local  councils  of  defense, 
Feb.  20,  1919.] 
Council  of  Defense. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  State  council  of  defense  called  for  the  purpose 
of  deciding  its  future  it  was  determined  that  work  should  be  con- 
tinued with  increased  vigor,  with  special  emphasis  on  Americaniza- 


316        UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

tion.  The  governor  is  in  accord  with  the  recommendation  of  the  coun- 
cil that  it  should  be  continued  in  all  departments  and  that  community 
councils  and  Americanization  work  be  made  permanent. — [Letter 
from  State  division  of  the  Woman's  Committee  to  U.  S.  Council  of 
National  Defense,  Feb.  27,  1919.] 

A  comprehensive  program  has  been  issued  by  the  State  council  of 
defense  outlining  activities  during  the  reconstruction  period  that 
should  be  carried  on  by  the  various  local  units.  It  includes  Ameri- 
canization, child  welfare,  health  and  sanitation,  agriculture  and  home 
economics,  labor,  social  service,  and  drives  for  money,  and  places 
special  emphasis  on  the  need  for  establishment  of  community  coun- 
cils.— [Bulletin  of  State  council  of  defense.  Mar.  5,  1919.] 

The  State  council  of  defense  will  continue  as  a  voluntary  body 
only,  since  it  is  not  likely  that  the  special  session  of  the  legislature 
will  vote  funds.  County  councils  are  no  longer  on  a  war  basis.  No 
provision  is  made  for  community  councils.  All  activities  have 
ceased. — [Reply  from  State  council  of  defense  to  questionnaire  of  the 
Field  Division,  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  June,  1919.] 
Education  of  Returned  Service  Men. 

Every  Texas  man  and  woman  who  has  been  in  the  military  service 
of  the  United  States,  and  who  now  wishes  to  attend  the  University 
of  Texas,  may  secure  needed  financial  assistance  from  the  $1,000,000 
students'  memorial  fund,  which  is  to  be  established  as  a  memorial  to 
those  who  were  killed  in  the  war.  The  first  loans  to  be  made  from 
this  fund  will  be  to  former  service  men  and  women  who  desire  to 
pursue  their  studies. — [Christian  Science  Monitor,  Boston,  Mass., 
May  20, 1919.] 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Dallas  Episcopal  clergj^men  it  was  decided  to 
carry  out  the  Episcopal  war  commission  plan  to  aid  the  returned 
soldiers,  sailors,  and  marines  who  wish  to  secure  an  education,  and 
will  provide  means  for  so  doing. — [News,  Dallas,  Tex.,  Mar.  22, 1919.] 

Employment. 

The  matter  of  making  a  State  appropriation  to  assist  the  work  of 
the  United  States  Employment  Service  is  receiving  the  earnest  con- 
sideration of  the  governor. — [Letter  from  the  governor  to  U.  S. 
Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  19,  1919.] 

The  director  of  the  United  States  Employment  Service  for  Texas 
has  announced  that  the  San  Antonio  and  Houston  offices  of  the  serv- 
ice will  continue  as  heretofore  under  Federal  maintenance.  Seven- 
other  cities — Amarillo,  Austin,  Beaumont,  Dallas,  El  Paso,  Fort 
Worth,  and  Texarkana — have  agreed  to  defray  the  cost  of  operation 
of  their  offices  until  Congress  again  convenes  and  the  Federal  ap- 
propriation is  passed.    The  maintenance  of  these  nine  offices  gives 


TEXAS.  317 

Texas  45  per  cent  of  its  present  status. — [Chronicle,  Houston,  Tex., 
Mar.  23,  1919.] 

All  county  councils  of  defense  in  the  State  have  arranged  to  assist 
in  securing  employment  for  returned  soldiers. — [Telegram  from 
State  council  of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar. 
24,  1919.] 

The  State  legislature  has  appropriated  $35,000  to  aid  the  employ- 
ment service  in  Texas,  due  to  the  failure  of  Congress  to  appropriate 
funds  for  the  continuation  of  the  Federal  employment  service. — 
[Mail,  Charleston,  W.  Va.,  Mar.  26,  1919.] 

Employment  offices  maintained  in  Texas  by  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment in  cooperation  with  State  and  local  organizations,  report  that 
during  the  six  months'  period,  January  1  to  June  30,  1919,  77,645 
persons  were  registered  who  were  seeking  employment;  89,627  re- 
quests for  employees  were  received;  and  66,192  persons  were  placed 
by  these  offices. — [Compiled  from  statistics  furnished  by  U.  S.  Em- 
ployment Service,  Aug.  8,  1919.] 

Citations  have  been  issued  by  the  United  States  War  and  Navy 
Departments  to  712  firms  in  the  State,  these  employers  having  assured 
the  departments  that  they  will  reemploy  every  returned  service  man 
who  formerly  worked  for  them  and  left  to  serve  in  the  Army  or 
Navy  during  the  World  War. — [Memorandum  from  Assistant  to 
Secretary  of  War  in  the  replacement  of  service  men  to  civil  life,  to 
U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Nov.  20,  1919.] 

In  Corpus  Christi,  Dallas,  Fort  Worth,  Houston,  and  San  Antonio 
the  War  Camp  Community  Service,  cooperating  with  the  United 
States  Employment  Service,  was  successful  in  procuring  work  for 
discharged  men.  In  Fort  Worth  800  posters  stating  that  the  War 
Camp  Community  Service  and  the  United  States  Employment  Serv- 
ice were  cooperating  in  finding  jobs  for  the  men  were  distributed  to 
business  houses  the  War  Camp  Community  Service  keeping  in  touch 
with  employers  by  personal  visits  and  telephone  calls,  with  the  result 
that  most  of  the  applicants  were  placed  in  positions. — [Report  of 
War  Camp  Community  Service  for  U.  S.  Council  of  National 
Defense,  August,  1919.] 

The  Texas  Artillery  Club  is  cooperating  with  the  Dallas  Chamber 
of  Commerce  and  other  similar  agencies  in  helping  discharged  ar- 
tillerymen to  get  positions  when  they  return  to  civil  life. — [News, 
Dallas,  Tex.,  Mar.  14,  1919.] 

At  a  meeting  of  Dallas  Episcopal  clergymen  it  v/as  planned  to 
carry  out  the  program  of  the  Episcopal  war  commission  and  aid 
returning  soldiers,  sailors,  and  marines  to  secure  employment. — 
[News,  Dallas,  Tex.,  Mar.  22,  1919.] 

Due  to  the  failure  of  Congress  to  appropriate  funds  for  the  v»'ork 
of  the  Federal  employment  service,  the  War  Camp  Coimiiunity  Serv- 


318        UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT   AND  REC^ONSTRUCTION. 

ice  is  cooperating  with  the  bureau  in  DaUas.  By  the  joining  of  tho 
two  organizations,  the  employment  service  in  Dallas  will  be  able  to 
carry  on  and  even  extend  its  functions. — [News,  Dallas,  Tex.,  Mar. 
26,  1919.] 

The  Houston  Chamber  of  Commerce  has  an  employment  bureau 
for  discharged  soldiers,  which  is  instrumental  in  finding  employment 
for  many  returned  service  men. — [Chronicle,  Houston,  Tex.,  Feb.  12, 
1919.] 

An  office  has  been  opened  in  Houston  to  give  free  assistance  in 
finding  employment  for  discharged  negro  soldiers. — [Post,  Houston, 
Tex.,  Mar.  5,  1919.] 

The  Federal  director  of  the  employment  service  in  Houston  is 
experiencing  great  difficulty  in  filling  demands  for  farm  labor.  Dis- 
cussing recent  calls,  he  stated  that  200  men  could  at  once  be  put  to 
work  on  farms  in  the  southern  part  of  the  State,  in  positions  that 
would  pay  from  $30  to  $40  a  month,  with  board  and  lodging,  which 
in  the  city  would  be  equivalent  to  approximately  $1  a  day.  It  was 
stated  that  men  out  of  employment  in  that  district  are  nearly  all 
desirious  of  positions  in  the  city  and  decline  to  accept  farm  posi- 
tions.—[Christian  Science  Monitor,  Boston,  Mass.,  Mar.  31,  1919.]' 

Foreign  Languages  in  Schools. 

The  senate  has  passed,  with  amendments,  the  house  bill  requiring 
that  English  be  employed  in  exercises  and  instruction  in  all  schools, 
including  parochial  and  private  schools.  An  amendment  was  adopted 
providing  that  the  bill  should  in  no  way  interfere  with  religious 
doctrines  that  may  be  taught  in  parochial  schools.  The  senate  de- 
feated a  bill  allowing  the  teaching  of  Spanish  and  French  in  con- 
junction with  English. — [Christian  Science  Monitor,  Boston,  Mass., 
Mar.  18,  1919.] 

High  Cost  of  Living. 

Houston  has  a  municipally  owned  retail  market,  but  the  city  has 
taken  three  of  the  stalls  and  is  handling  fruits  and  vegetables  in 
competition  Avith  local  merchants.  The  city  is  thus  forcing  the 
merchants  to  keep  the  profits  down  to  a  fair  selling  price. — [Hudson 
Observer,  Hoboken,  N.  J.,  Oct.  28,  1919.] 

Highways. 

The  State  highway  commissioner  advises  that  the  legislature  has 
passed  a  resolution  placing  before  the  people  of  the  State  the  propo- 
sition of  a  $75,000,000  bond  issue  for  road  construction.  This  issue 
will  be  voted  upon  at  the  next  election. — [Bulletin  No.  46,  Highways 
Transport  Committee,  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense.] 

On  October  1,  1919,  97  highway  projects  had  been  approved  in  the 
State,  involving  the  improvement  of  1,300.82  miles  of  road  at  a  total 
estimated  cost  of  $7,198,860.42,  of  which  the  Federal  Government 


TEXAS.  319 

is  requested  to  pay  $2,852,088.80  in  accordance  with  the  provisions 
of  the  Federal-aid  road  act  of  July  11,  1916,  as  amended  by  the 
act  of  February  28,  1919. — [Statement  prepared  by  Bureau  of  Pub- 
lic Roads,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture.] 
Housing  Accommodations. 

A  new  scheme  for  standardized  house  construction  has  been 
evohed  by  a  Texas  lumber  concern  which  specializes  in  cut-to-length 
lumber,  morticed  and  tenoned,  which  gives  the  product  its, name 
"  enterlock,''  The  design  is  to  simplify  assembling  and  construc- 
tion and  make  possible  quantity  production  at  low  cost. — [Housing 
Betterment,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  June,  1919.] 

The  directors  of  the  chamber  of  commerce  approved  the  plan  to 
create  a  fund  of  $500,000  for  the  purpose  of  building  adequate  hous- 
ing facilities  in  Dallas.  The  plan  provides  for  the  building  of 
apartment  houses  and  small  homes. — [Housing  Betterment,  New 
York,  N.  Y.,  February,  1919.] 
Information  Service  for  Returned  Service  Men. 

The  local  branches  of  the  American  Red  Cross  are  cooperating 
"wdth  other  organizations  in  establishing  contacts  Avith  service  men 
for  the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  adjustment  of  their  allotments, 
allowance  accounts,  compensation  and  claims,  and  the  reinstatement 
of  lapsed  or  canceled  insurance.  It  is  the  desire  of  the  Bureau  of 
War  Risk  Insurance  that  all  inquiries  of  this  natiu'e  be  cleared 
through  the  home-service  sections  of  the  American  Red  Cross.  Up 
to  April  1,  1919,  the  American  Red  Cross  had  organized  in  Texas 
592  units  with  r  total  of  400  workers. — [Statement  prepared  by 
American  National  Red  Cross  for  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
November,  1919.] 

Land  Settlement. 

The  legislature  has  passed  a  bill  referring  to  the  people  a  consti- 
tutional amendment  so  that  the  State  may  lend  its  credit  for  land- 
settlement  purposes.  This  amendment  was  voted  upon  favorably 
May  24,  1919.  The  attorney  general  is  preparing  a  measure  for 
State  and  Federal  cooperation.  A  committee  of  five  has  been  ap- 
pointed by  the  governor  to  represent  the  State  in  soldier-settlement 
matters. — [Memorandum  from  Reclamation  Service,  U.  S.  Dept.  of 
the  Interior  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  July  1,  1919.] 
Moratorium  for  Service  Men. 

An  act  has  been  approved  prohibiting  the  sale  under  execution, 
deed  of  trust,  mortgage,  and  lien,  of  property  belonging  to  soldiers 
and  sailors  in  the  service  of  the  United  States  or  those  who  have 
served  during  the  present  war,  until  12  months  after  their  dis- 
charge.— [General  Laws  of  Texas,  1919,  ch.  63.] 


320       UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

Public  Works. 

Reports  received  in  January,  1919,  cover  69  public  building  and 
construction  projects  which  were  under  way  or  contemplated  in 
the  State,  aggregating  an  estimated  value  of  $14,070,000,  Of  this 
number  37  were  street  improvements,  estimated  to  cost  $6,735,000; 
8  were  waterworks,  estimated  to  cost  $2,490,000;  and  10  were  schools, 
estimated  to  cost  $900,000. — [Statistics  compiled  by  Division  of 
Public  Works  and  Construction  Developments,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor, 
Apr.  17,  1919.] 
Eeadjustment  Conference. 

The  first  steps  toward  the  solution  of  the  reconstruction  problems 
relating  especially  to  Texas  are  being  taken  by  a  conference  in 
Houston  of  more  than  200  representatives,  from  all  parts  of  the 
State,  of  34  organizations  representing  the  commercial,  industrial, 
civic,  and  educational  interests  of  the  State.  Among  the  problems 
considered  in  the  first  day's  session  were  the  return  of  the  railroads 
to  private  ownership  under  adequate  safeguards  to  the  country 
against  demoralization  of  shipping ;  the  enactment  of  legislation  for 
the  regulation  of  both  capital  and  labor ;  the  advancement  of  inland 
w^aterways  and  marine  trade ;  the  stimulation  of  agricultural  produc- 
tion and  distribution;  the  improA^ement  of  rural  schools  and  better 
pay  for  teachers;  the  betterment  of  general  health  conditions;  ade- 
quate provision  for  the  returning  soldier;  and  the  improvement  of 
living  conditions  of  people  on  the  farms. — [Post,  Houston,  Tex., 
Jan.  11,  1919.] 
Registration  of  Discharge  Papers. 

An  act  has  been  approved  providing  for  the  recording  of  official 
discharges  of  soldiers  and  sailors  and  other  persons  in  the  service  of 
the  United  States  in  the  war  with  Germany  and  Austria-Hungary, 
without  cost  to  the  person. — [General  Laws  of  Texas,  1919,  ch.  96.] 
School  Gardens. 

School  gardens  are  being  conducted  in  134  cities  and  towns,  the 
total  present  enrollment  in  the  State  being  90,672.  In  Houston 
during  the  fiscal  year  ending  June  30,  1919,  there  were  12,000  chil- 
dren enrolled. — [Prepared  from  material  furnished  by  U.  S.  School 
Garden  Army  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Nov.  1, 1919.] 
Suffrage  for  Returned  Service  Men. 

The  governor  has  signed  the  bill  giving  to  discharged  soldiers,  sail- 
ors, and  marines,  disqualified  under  the  State  election  law,  the  right 
of  suffrage.    The  law  becomes  effective  immediately. — [Christian  Sci- 
ence Monitor,  Boston,  Mass.,  May  10,  1919.] 
Tax  Exemption  for  Service  Men. 

At  a  special  session  of  the  legislature  a  bill  was  passed  granting  the 
right  of  franchise  to  soldiers  and  sailors  without  requiring  the  pay- 
ment of  a  board  tax. — [Information  Bureau,  American  National  Red 
Cross,  Compendium  Change  No.  117.] 


UTAH.  321 

Vocational  Reeducation  of  Disabled  Service  Men. 

In  accordance  Avith  section  2  of  the  Federal  vocational  rehabili- 
tation act  of  June  27,  1918,  as  amended  July  11,  1919,  arrangements 
had  been  made  up  to  October  25,  1919,  by  the  Federal  Board  for 
Vocational  Education  \\ith  27  educational  institutions  in  the  State 
for  the  reeducation  of  service  men  to  overcome  the  handicap  of 
disabilities  incurred  in  the  service.  A  total  of  239  such  men  have 
been  sent  to  these  institutions  for  training.  Arrangements  have 
also  been  made  by  this  board  with  28  industrial  establishments  in 
the  State  whereby  the  latter  have  undertaken  to  train  a  total  of  28 
disabled  men. — [Compiled  from  statement  prepared  by  Rehabili- 
tation Division,  Federal  Board  for  Vocational  Education.] 
Welfare  of  Returned  Service  Men. 

The  establishment  in  New  York  City  of  a  Texas  bureau  for  welcom- 
ing and  assisting  returning  soldiers  who  land  in  that  port  is  advo- 
cated by  a  New  York  Army  officer.  It  is  suggested  that  the  bureau 
be  maintained  by  subscriptions  from  various  chambers  of  commerce 
over  the  State  and  by  public  institutions.  An  outline  of  ways  in 
which  such  an  agency  could  be  of  assistance  to  soldiers  is  given,  in- 
cluding such  items  as  special  care  for  wounded  Texas  soldiers;  advis- 
ing former  employers  of  the  return  of  their  employees;  furnishing 
a  meeting  place  for  Texas  men ;  maintaining  complete  files  of  recent 
Texas  newspapers ;  affording  financial  assistance  in  case  of  need ;  act- 
ing as  a  post  office  for  outgoing  and  incoming  Texas  soldiers'  mail; 
and  other  things. — [Post,  Houston,  Tex.,  Mar.  2,  1919.] 

UTAH. 

Americanization. 

An  act,  approved  March  20,  requires  the  attendance  at  night  school, 
at  least  four  hours  per  week  during  the  night  school  term,  of  all 
non-English-speaking  persons  between  the  ages  of  16  and  45  years, 
and  provides  a  penalty  for  violation  of  this  requirement.  It  also 
provides  for  the  appointment  of  a  director  of  Americanization  and 
the  establishment  and  maintenance  of  evening  school  classes.  A  sum 
of  $20,000  was  appropriated  for  carrying  out  this  Americanization 
work.— [Laws  of  Utah,  1919,  ch.  93.] 

It  is  estimated  that  there  are  about  25,000  aliens  in  the  State  who 
will  be  obliged  to  attend  the  Americanization  schools  recently  opened 
in  compliance  with  the  act  of  March  20,  1919. — [Christian  Science 
Monitor,  Boston,  Mass.,  Sept.  15,  1919.] 

The  superintendent  of  schools  of  Ogden  reports  that  there  is  a 
hirge  class  of  foreigners  in  the  evening  school. —  [Compiled  from 
forthcoming  report  of  director  of  citizenship  to  Commissioner  of 
Naturalization,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor,  1920.] 

134286°— 20 21 


322       UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

*'  Baek-to-School "  Drive. 

The  "  Back-to-school "  drive  in  Utah  was  carried  on  under  the 
direction  of  the  State  board  of  education  and  local  school  author- 
ities. The  activities  of  the  drive  will  be  continued  throughout  the 
year.— [Report  of  child  conservation  section  of  the  Field  Division 
to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Oct.  1,  1918,  to  July  1,  1919.] 
Building  Activity. 

The  soldiers'  and  sailors'  emploA-ment  bureau  of  the  State  is 
planning  to  encourage  in  every  possible  way  an  extensive  building 
campaign  throughout  Utah.  According  to  the  secretary  of  the  State 
council  of  defense,  the  council  as  well  as  the  local  city  employment 
bureau  will  send  out  1,000  building  posters  to  be  placed  conspicu- 
ously throughout  the  various  communities.  It  is  pointed  out  that 
the  building  plans,  if  carried  out,  will  provide  many  positions  for 
skilled  as  well  as  unskilled  labor.  State,  county,  and  city  executives, 
as  well  as  individuals,  will  be  asked  to  cooperate  in  making  it  suc- 
cessful.—[Deseret  News,  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah,  Feb.  7,  1919.] 

The  Salt  Lake  Cit}^  Commercial  Club,  Rotar}-  Club,  Manufac- 
turers' Association,  and  the  Associated  Industries  of  Utah  have  in- 
augurated a  complete  building  campaign  in  the  State  which  is 
meeting  with  marked  success.  The  "  Own-your-own-home "  cam- 
paign, which  was  started  on  a  small  scale,  has  now  assumed  pro- 
portions that  would  indicate  a  very  decided  stimulation  in  the  build- 
ing trades  throughout  the  State. — [Letter  from  State  council  of 
defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  May  24,  1919.] 
Business  Readjustment. 

The  Utah  Associated  Industries,  composed  of  many  of  the  leading 
industries  of  the  State,  has  been  organized  for  the  purpose  of  re- 
organizing, expanding,  and  developing  .the  industries  of  the  State 
in  the  after-the-war  period,  so  as  to  assure  the  progress  of  the  State 
in  the  future. — [Examiner,  Ophir,  Utah,  Jan.  27,  1919.] 

Employment. 

Additional  public  improvement  work  on  road  building  has  been 
authorized  in  order  to  employ  soldiers  and  heads  of  families  out  of 
work.  A  commission  is  to  meet  with  the  executive  secretary  of  the 
soldiers'  and  sailors'  employment  commission,  and  the  State  and 
county  officials,  to  seek  an  efficient  cooperative  means  of  meeting  the 
constantly  increasing  unemployment  problem.  Many  applicants 
have  failed  to  secure  emplojanent  because  employers  are  not  report- 
ing vacancies  to  the  soldiers'  and  sailors'  bureau. — [Deseret  News, 
Salt  Lake  City,  Utah,  Feb.  10,  1919.] 

Several  hundred  returned  soldiers  and  sailors  have  been  placed  in 
situations  by  the  soldiers'  and  sailors'  employment  commission  of  the 
State  council  of  defense.     The  executive  secretary  states,  however, 


UTAH.  323 

tliat  there  is  urgent  need  of  jobs  for  ex-service  men,  as  out  of  700 
applications  for  employment  filed  at  the  commission  within  four 
clays  only  100  of  the  men  have  been  directed  to  places  of  employ- 
ment. A,si)ecial  committee  is  at  work  on  plans  to  increase  the  num- 
ber of  available  places  and  thus  make  the  work  of  the  bureau  so 
effective  as  to  care  for  all  applicants.  At  present  the  work  is  lim- 
ited to  returned  fighters,  but  with  the  perfection  of  the  committee's 
jolan  situations  w^ill  be  offered  to  other  unemployed  men.  The  bureau 
is  cooperating  with  the  State  manufacturers'  association  and  the 
associated  industries. — [Herald-Republican,  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah, 
Mar.  21,  1919.] 

Employment  offices  maintained  in  Utah  by  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment in  cooperation  wdth  State  and  local  organizations,  report  that 
during  the  six  months'  period  January  1  to  June  30,  1919,  13,051 
persons  were  registered  who  were  seeking  employment;  9,613  re- 
quests for  employees  were  received;  and  5,856  persons  were  placed 
by  these  offices. — [Compiled  from  statistics  furnished  by  U.  S.  Em- 
ployment Service,  Aug.  8,  1919.] 

Citations  have  been  issued  by  the  United  States  War  and  Navy 
Departments  to  423  firms  in  the  State,  these  employers  having  assured 
the  departments  that  they  will  reemploy  every  returned  service  man 
who  formerly  worked  for  them  and  left  to  serve  in  the  Army  or 
Navy  during  the  World  War. — [Memorandum  from  assistant  to 
Secretary  of  War  in  the  replacement  of  service  men  to  civil  life,  to 
U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Nov.  20,  1919.] 

The  central  employment  bureau  of  the  State  council  of  defense 
at  Salt  Lake  City  is  urging  business  firms  throughout  the  city  to 
make  places  for  returned  soldiers  who  are  in  need  of  employment. 
The  bureau  expects  to  carry  on  a  campaign  to  provide  jobs  for 
service  men  which  will  not  close  until  every  returned  Utah  soldier 
is  placed  in  a  permanent  position  equal  to  that  he  held  before  enter- 
ing the  service.— [Tribune,  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah,  Feb,  9,  1919.] 

Immediate  employment  which  will  provide  relief  for  all  returned 
soldiers,  sailors,  and  marines  out  of  work  in  Salt  Lake  City,  was 
decided  upon  at  a  conference  held  at  the  governor's  office  between 
city,  county,  and  State  officials.  That  the  seriousness  of  the  situation 
in  which  the  unemployed  service  men  are  found  warranted  instant 
alleviation,  was  the  concensus  of  opinion  among  the  conferees,  re- 
gardless of  cost  in  money  or  effort.  The  governor  urged  immediate 
action  in  securing  work  of  some  kind  for  these  men,  which  would 
tide  them  over  until  spring,  when  development  projects  will  be  begun 
and  plenty  of  opportunity  will  be  open  for  labor. — [Tribune,  Salt 
Lake  City,  Utah,  Feb.  12,  1919.] 

The  governor  has  conferred  with  officials  of  Salt  Lake  City  and 
Salt  Lake  County,  and  a  plan  has  been  adopted  which  will  make 


324        UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

it  possible  to  continue  the  operation  of  employment  bureaus  in  this 
locality  for  some  time  to  come,  despite  the  curtailment  of  the  work 
of  the  United  States  Emplo3^ment  Service.  It  is  not  believed  that 
it  will  be  necessary  to  arrange  for  the  maintenance  of  employment 
bureaus  in  other  cities  in  Utah. — [Letter  from  the  governor  to  U.  S. 
Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  24,  1919.] 
Highways. 

An  act,  approved  March  13,  provides  for  the  negotiation  of  a  loan 
of  $4,000,000  by  the  issuing  of  State  bonds,  and  appropriates  the 
proceeds  of  the  sale  of  the  bonds  for  the  construction,  maintenance, 
and  repair  of  State  roads  and  the  building  of  bridges. — [Laws  of 
Utah,  1919,  ch.  59.] 

The  State  has  authorized  the  expenditure  of  $4,000,000  on  road 
construction  in  order  to  provide  employment  for  returning  service 
men. — [Telegram  from  State  council  of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of 
National  Defense,  Mar.  24,  1919.] 

On  October  1,  1919,  13  highway  projects  had  been  approved  in  the 
State,  involving  the  improvement  of  411.79  miles  of  road  at  a  total 
estimated  cost  of  $2,445,786.90,  of  which  the  Federal  Government 
is  requested  to  pay  $1,222,893.44  in  accordance  wiJ:h  the  provisions  of 
the  Federal-aid  road  act  of  July  11,  1916,  as  amended  by  the  act  of 
February  28,  1919. — [Statement  prepared  by  Bureau  of  Public 
Roads,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture.] 
Information  Service  for  Eetnrned  Service  Men. 

The  local  branches  of  the  American  Red  Cross  are  cooperating 
with  other  organizations  in  establishing  contacts  with  service  men 
for  the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  adjustment  of  their  allotments, 
allowance  accounts,  compensation  and  claims,  and  the  reinstatement 
of  lapsed  or  canceled  insurance.  It  is  the  desire  of  the  Bureau  of 
War  Risk  Insurance  that  all  inquiries  of  this  nature  be  cleared 
through  the  home-service  sections  of  the  American  Red  Cross.  Up 
to  April  1,  1919,  the  American  Red  Cross  had  organized  in  Utah 
99  units  Avith  a  total  of  244  workers. —  [Statement  prepared  by 
American  National  Red  Cross  for  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
Noveinber,  1919.] 
Land  Settlement. 

Immediate  action  to  secure  the  insertion  in  the  soldier-settle- 
ment bill  pending  before  Congress,  of  provisions  which  will  more 
adequately  take  care  of  the  requirements  of  Utah  and  the  other 
arid  States  of  the  West,  was  begun  at  a  conference  held  at  Salt  Lake 
City.  A  project  which  will  ultimately  mean  the  development  of 
2,000,000  acres  of  land,  all  lying  within  75  miles  of  Salt  Lake  City, 
Ogden,  and  Provo,  was  urged  as  the  greatest  possible  project  for 
Utah  to  take  up  under  the  soldier-settlement  act.     It  was  stated 


UTAH.  325 

that  the  project  could  be  constructed  for  a  total  of  $15,000,000,  and 
the  value  of  the  lands  thus  brought  under  water  and  cultivation 
could  be  conservatively  estimated  at  $50,000,000. — [Tribune,  Salt 
Lake  City,  Utah,  June  6,  1919.] 

The  State  legislature  enacted  a  bill,  approved  March  13,  provid- 
ing for  cooperation  with  the  Federal  Government  in  soldier  settle- 
ments and  appropriating  $25,000.  The  legislature  also  enacted  a 
bill,  approved  March  17,  providing  for  a  bond  issue  of  $1,000,000, 
the  proceeds  of  which  are  to  be  covered  into  the  soldier-settlement 
fund.  The  governor  has  appointed  a  soldier-settlement  commis- 
sion.—[Laws  of  Utah,  1919,  chs.  74,  106.] 

The  two  acts  mentioned  above  were  made  effective  even  though 
cooperation  with  the  United  States  Government  can  not  be  had. — 
[Memorandum  from  Reclamation  Service,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  the  In- 
terior to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Nov.  1,  1919.] 
Preference  to  Returned  Service  Men  in  Public  Employment. 

The  State  road  commission  has  requested  that  contractors  give 
preference  in  employment  to  returned  soldiers,  sailors,  and  ma- 
rines.—[Deseret  News,  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah,  Mar.  26,  1919.] 

Public  Works. 

Contracts  which  will  cause  the  employment  of  about  1,000  men 
have  been  let  by  the  Millard  County  district  drainage  board.  The 
action  of  the  board  is  one  of  the  first  steps  in  Utah  to  give  employ- 
ment to  a  large  number  of  returned  soldiers,  sailors,  and  marines. — 
[Christian  Science  Monitor,  Boston,  Mass.,  Feb.  22,  1919.] 

Reports  received  in  January,  1919,  cover  63  public  building  and 
construction  projects  which  were  under  way  or  contemplated  in  the 
State,  aggregating  an  estimated  value  of  $14,610,000.  Of  this 
number  19  were  street  improvements,  estimated  to  cost  $7,855,000; 
13  were  waterworks,  estimated  to  cost  $1,310,000;  4' were  sewers, 
estimated  to  cost  $1,175,000;  and  8  were  schools,  estimated  to  cost 
$1,090,000. — [Statistics  compiled  by  Division  of  Public  Works  and 
Construction  Developments,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor,  Apr.  17,  1919.] 

Most  of  the  counties  throughout  the  State  have  bonded  for  public 
buildings,  and  many  millions  of  dollars  will  be  expended  during 
1919.  This  amount  of  public  work  will  create  employment  not  only 
for  the  returning  soldiers  but  for  all  people  who  desire  that  kind  of 
employment  in  the  State. — [Letter  from  State  council  of  defense 
to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  May  24, 1919.] 
School  Gardens. 

School  gardens  are  being  conducted  in  two  cities,  the  total  present 
enrollment  being  1,760. —  [Prepared  from  material  furnished  by  U.  S- 
School  Garden  Army  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Nov.  1, 
1919.] 


326        UNITED  STATES  EE ADJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

Vocational  Reeducation  of  Disabled  Service  Men. 

In  accordance  with  section  2  of  the  Federal  Vocational  rehabili- 
tation act  of  June  27,  1918,  as  amended  July  11,  1919,  arrangements 
had  been  made  up  to  October  25,  1919,  by  the  Federal  Board  for 
Vocational  Education  with  five  educational  institutions  in  the  State 
for  the  reeducation  of  service  men  to  overcome  the  handicap  of  dis- 
abilities incurred  in  the  service.  A  total  of  43  such  men  have  been 
sent  to  these  institutions  for  training.  Arrangements  have  also  been 
made  by  this  board  with  four  industrial  establishments  in  the  State 
whereby  the  latter  have  undertaken  to  train  four  disabled  men. — 
[Compiled  from  statement  prepared  by  Eehabilitation  Division,  Fed- 
eral Board  for  Vocational  Education.] 

VERMONT. 

Assistance  for  Service  Men. 

Early  in  the  war  arrangements  were  made  to  care  for  discharged 
soldiers  suffering  from  tuberculosis.  Some  of  these  men  have  been 
placed  in  the  Vermont  Sanatorium  at  Pittsford. — [Letter  from  secre- 
tary, Vermont  Civil  and  Military  Affairs  to  U.  S.  Council  of  Na- 
tional Defense,  May  28,  1919.] 
"  Back-to-School "  Drive. 

.  The  work  for  the  ^'  Back-to-school "  campaign  was  put  in  the 
hands  of  the  educational  chairman  of  the  State  federation  of  women's 
clubs,  whose  reports  indicate  that  almost  all  the  clubs  have  appointed 
committees  to  cooperate  with  the  district  superintendents  of  schools. 
At  present  it  is  impossible  to  calculate  definite  results.  Stay-in- 
School  leaflets  have  been  sent  to  every  district  superintendent.^ 
[Eeport  of  child  conservation  section  of  the  Field  Division  to  U.  S. 
Council  of  National  Defense,  Oct.  1,  1918,  to  July  1,  1919.] 
Committee  on  Public  Safety. 

It  is  the  purpose  of  the  Vermont  Committee  on  Public  Safety  to 
keep  this  organization  intact  until  final  demobilization  of  the  sol- 
diers. The  work  is  maintained  by  popular  subscription. — [Letter 
from  secretary.  State  council  of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National 
Defense,  Dec.  30,  1918.] 

The  Vermont  Committee  on  Public  Safety  has  done  effective  work 
in  connection  with  all  war  activities  in  the  State.  The  organization 
has  been  retained  to  help  in  reconstruction  plans,  and  has  given  much 
valuable  assistance  in  issuing  information  relative  to  soldier  insur- 
ance and  in  many  other  ways. — [Letter  from  secretary,  Vermont 
Civil  and  Military  Affairs  to  IJ.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  May 
28,  1919.] 
Education  of  Returned  Service  Men. 

The  State  is  offering  every  possible  help  to  soldiers  who  desire  to 
take  advantage  of  educational  opportunities. — [Letter  from  secre- 


VERMONT.  327 

tary,  Vermont  Civil  and  Military  Affairs  to  U.  S.  Council  of  Na- 
tional Defense,  May  28,  1919.] 

Employment. 

Special  efforts  are  being  made  to  attract  returned  soldiers  to  Ver- 
mont farms.  The  prevailing  practice  is  to  hold  positions  open  for  the 
men  and  women  who  are  coming  back,  and  thus  far  no  trouble  has 
been  encountered  in  securing  employment. 

Every  former  teacher  who  gave  up  teaching  in  the  State  to  take 
up  military  or  naval  service  has  been  offered  a  position  equal  to  that 
which  he  left. — [Letter  from  secretary,  Vermont  Civil  and  Military 
Affairs  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  May  28,  1919.] 

Employment  offices  maintained  in  Vermont  by  the  Federal  Gov- 
ernment, in  cooperation  with  State  and  local  organizations,  report 
that  during  the  six  months'  period,  January  1  to  June  30,  1919, 
4,298  persons  were  registered  who  were  seeking  employment;  3,024 
requests  for  employees  were  received ;  and  2,461  persons  were  placed 
by  these  offices. — [Compiled  from  statistics  furnished  by  U.  S.  Em- 
ployment Service,  Aug.  8,  1919.] 

Citations  have  been  issued  by  the  United  States  War  and  Navy 
Departments  to  103  firms  in  the  State,  these  employers  having  assured 
the  departments  that  they  will  reemploy  every  returned  service  man 
who  formerly  worked  for  them  and  left  to  serve  in  the  Army  or 
Navy  during  the  World  War. — [Memorandum  from  assistant  to 
Secretary  of  War  in  the  replacement  of  service  men  to  civil  life,  to 
U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Nov.  20,  1919.] 
Foreign  Languages  in  Schools. 

The  house  of  representatives  has  passed  the  senate  bill  requiring 
the  exclusive  use  of  the  English  language  in  the  schools  of  Vermont. 
An  amendment  was  added  to  the  bill  providing  that  French  may  be 
taught. — [Christian  Science  Monitor,  Boston,  Mass.,  Mar.  29,  1919.] 

Highways. 

The  State  road  commissioner  advises  that  matters  pertaining  to 
good  roads  are  being  considered  by  the  State  legislature.  A  bond 
issue  for  the  improvement  of  roads  is  not  probable,  but  money  is 
being  voted  liberally  according  to  the  means  of  the  State. — [Bulletin 
No.  47,  Highways  Transport  Committee,  U.  S.  Council  of  National 
Defense.] 

There  is  much  activity  in  highway  work,  especially  in  the  line  of 
maintenance  by  patrolmen.  Over  1,500  miles  of  State  road  arc 
being  taken  care  of  under  the  patrol  system  at  this  time.  Towns 
are  beginning  to  realize  that  bridges  are  a  very  important  part  of 
highways,  and,  under  the  new  law  which  increases  aid  from  the 
State,  they  are  arranging  to  construct  a  number  of  cement  bridges. 
The  towns  are  also  voting  liberal  amounts  for  construction  and  re- 


328        UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

construction,  the  amount  of  money  available  for  this  purpose  being 
in  excess  of  any  previous  year.  The  State  is  making  plans  to  talve 
advantage  of  all  the  Federal  money  available  for  highway  work.— 
[Letter  from  secretary,  Vermont  Civil  and  Military  Affairs  to  U.  S. 
Council  of  National  Defense,  May  28,  1919.] 

On  October  1,  1919,  11  highway  projects  had  been  approved  in  the 
State,  involving  the  improvement  of  18.26  miles  of  road  at  a  total 
estimated  cost  of  $222,607.19,  of  which  the  Federal  Government  is 
requested  to  pay  $111,303.58  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the 
Federal-aid  road'  act  of  July  11,  1916,  as  amended  by  the  act  of 
February  28,  1919. — [Statement  prepared  by  Bureau  of  Public 
Roads,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture.] 

The  State  legislature  has.  appropriated  the  sum  of  $600,000  to 
meet  the  terms  of  the  Federal  road  act. — [Laws  of  Vermont,  1919, 
sec.  97  of  Public  act  53.] 
Information  Service  for  Returned  Service  Men. 

The  local  branches  of  the  American  Red  Cross  are  cooperating 
with  other  organizations  in  establishing  contacts  with  service  men 
for  the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  adjustment  of  their  allotments, 
allowance  accounts,  compensation  and  claims,  and  the  reinstatement 
of  lapsed  or  canceled  insurance.  It  is  the  desire  of  the  Bureau  of 
War  Risk  Insurance  that  all  inquiries  of  this  nature  be  cleared 
through  the  home-service  sections  of  the  American  Red  Cross.  Up 
to  April  1,  1919,  the  American  Red  Cross  had  organized  in  Vermont 
226  units  wdth  a  total  of  259  workers. — [Statement  prepared  by 
American  National  Red  Cross  for  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
November,  1919.] 
Land  Settlement. 

In  connection  with  the  soldier-settlement  plan  of  the  United  States 
Department  of  the  Interior,  Vermont  has  a  very  little  cut-over  land 
which  will  lend  itself  to  development  by  reclamation.  The  State 
has,  however,  many  occupied  and  unoccupied  farms  for  sale  at  prices 
less  than  the  cost  of  reconstructing  buildings  now  found  thereon. 
In  accordance  with  a  bill,  approved  March  26,  listers  have  taken  a 
census  of  the  farms  for  sale  in  each  town,  and  the  commissioner  of 
agriculture  will  issue  a  book  containing  lists  of  farms  offered  for 
sale  and  descriptions  of  such  farms.  Assistance  will  be  given  in  every 
possible  way  to  soldiers  or  other  persons  desiring  to  purchase  these 
farms.  The  assistance  of  farmers'  clubs  and  commercial  organiza- 
tions will  be  enlisted  to  support  this  project. — [Letter  from  secre- 
tary, Vermont  Civil  and  Military  Affairs  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National 
Defense,  May  29,  1919.] 

The  general  assembly  on  March  26,  1919,  passed  a  bill  (Public 
act  50,  S.  70)   in  which  it  is  provided  that  "the  commissioner  of 


I 


VERMONT.  329 

agriculture  is  authorized  and  directed  to  confer  witli  the  Secretary 
of  the  Interior  for  the  purpose  of  securing  the  assistance  of  the  Fed- 
eral Government,  in  placing  returned  soldiers  on  farms  in  the  State, 
and  he  shall  obtain  for  the  State  its  proper  share,  of  any  appropria- 
tion made  by  Congress  to  assist  such  returned  soldiers  to  engage  in 
the  farming  industry." — [Memorandum  from  Reclamation  Service, 
U.  S.  Dept.  of  the  Interior  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
July  1,  1919.] 

Public  Works. 

Report  received  in  January,  1919,  cover  three  public  building  and 
construction  projects  which  Avere  under  waj^  or  contemplated  in 
the  State,  aggregating  an  estimated  value  of  $1,040,000.  Of  this 
number  two  Avere  street  improvements,  estimated  to  cost  $1,020,000; 
and  one  school,  estimated  J:o  cost  $20,000. — [Statistics  compiled  by 
Division  of  Public  Works  and  Construction  Developments,  U.  S. 
Dept.  of  Labor,  Apr.  17,  1919.] 

School  Gardens. 

School  gardens  are  being  conducted  in  seven  cities  and  towns,  the 
total  present  enrollment  in  the  State  being  343.  In  Rutland  during 
the  fiscal  year  ending  June  30,  1919,  there  were  239  children  en- 
rolled.— [Prepared  from  material  furnished  by  U.  S.  School  Garden 
Army  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Nov.  1,  1919.] 

During  the  first  year  of  the  Avar  the  State  had  a  membership  of 
30,000  boys  and  girls  enrolled  in  the  Green  Mountain  guard.  Forty 
thousand  bo^'s  and  girls  enrolled  in  the  Green  Mountain  guard  the 
second  year,  and  the  production  of  the  year  before  Avas  exceeded  in 
proportion.  During  the  season  of  1919  it  is  expected  that  this  or- 
ganization Avill  continue  this  Avork. — [Letter  from  secretary,  Vermont 
Civil  and  Military  Affairs  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  May 
28,  1919.] 

Tax  Exemption  for  Service  Men. 

A  bill  has  been  passed  by  the  legislature  amending  section  4019  of 
the  general  laAvs  by  providing  that  taxes  assessed  for  the  years  1917, 
1918,  and  1919  against  persons  in  the  military  or  naA^al  service  of  the 
United  States  in  the  Avar  against  Germany  may  be  abated.  This  act 
declared  as  legal  the  abatement  of  such  taxes  heretofore  made. — 
[Laws  of  Vermont,  1919,  H.  178,  Public  act  100.] 
Vocational  Education. 

Three  of  the  vocational  schools  Avhich  Avere  previously  maintained 
for  the  instruction  of  men  going  into  the  service  are  being  continued 
on  part  time  for  employees  of  manufacturing  plants. — [Letter  from 
secretary,  Vermont  Civil  and  Military  Affairs  to  U.  S.  Council  of 
National  Defense,  May  28,  1919.] 


330        UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

Vocational  Reeducation  of  Disabled  Service  Men. 

In  accordance  with  section  2  of  the  Federal  vocational  rehabili- 
tation act  of  June  27,  1918,  as  amended  July  11,  1919,  arrangements 
had  been  made  up  to  October  25,  1919,  by  the  Federal  Board  for 
Vocational  Education  with  two  educational  institutions  in  the  State 
for  the  reeducation  of  service  men  to  overcome  the  handicap  of  dis- 
abilities incurred  in  the  service.  Four  such  men  have  been  sent  to 
these  institutions  for  training. — [Compiled  from  statement  prepared 
by  Rehabilitation  Division,  Federal  Board  for  Vocational  Education.] 

VIRGINIA. 

Council  of  Defense. 

The  State  council  is  a  statutory  body  wdiich  can  not  disband  until 
six  months  after  peace  is  declared.  It  is  therefore  retaining  the 
entire  organization  including  counties,  at  war  strength,  having  trans- 
ferred no  activities  to  other  agencies.  Its  present  activities  consist 
of  campaigns  for:  Better  sanitation  in  rural  districts;  compilation 
of  Virginia  war  history;  stock  conservation;  fire  prevention;  thrift 
in  connection  Avitli  clean-up  periods ;  better  babies ;  and  motor  trans- 
piort  service. — [Repl}^  from  State  council  of  defense  to  questionnaire 
of  the  Field  Division,  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  July  12, 
1919.] 
Employment. 

In  order  to  j^rovide  employment  for  the  thousands  of  service  men 
who  are  being  returned  to  civil  life,  the  governor  has  called  a  con- 
ference of  the  mayors  and  city  managers  of  all  the  cities  of  the  State 
to  look  into  the  subject  and  decide  just  what  course  of  action  should 
be  followed. — [Virginian,  Richmond,  Va.,  Apr.  6,  1919.] 

A  resolution  passed  by  the  general  assembly  created  a  farm  labor 
board,  and  this  board  is  now  functioning.  It  is  placing  returning 
soldiers  and  civilians  on  farms,  and  has  available  for  use  of  appli- 
cants for  positions  information  as  to  conditions  in  all  parts  of  the 
State. 

A  State-wide  system  of  employment  agencies  is  in  process  of  es- 
tablishment, and  if  a  suitable  law  is  enacted  Virginia  stands  ready 
to  cover  the  State  with  an  employment  system  w^hich  will  assure  a 
job  for  every  soldier,  and  which  will  go  far  toward  relieving  labor 
unrest  if  unemployment  becomes  more  serious.  Up  to  the  present 
time  the  unemployment  problem  has  not  affected  Virginia  to  any 
great  extent. 

The  chairman  of  the  labor  committee  of  the  State  council  of  de- 
fense has  on  file  a  statement  from  virtually  every  employer  in  tho 
State  as  to  the  number  of  returned  soldiers  he  can  employ.  Of 
course  these  statements  are  subject  to  frequent  changes  as  conditions 


VIRGINIA.  331 

change,  but  practically  every  employer  in  the  State  has  signified  his 
Avillingness  to  take  back  his  own  men  who  left  to  go  to  war. — [Letter 
from  Federal  field  secretary  of  Virginia  to  U.  S.  Council  of  Na- 
tional Defense,  June  9,  1919.] 

Employment  offices  maintained  in  Virginia  by  the  Federal  Gov- 
ernment in  cooperation  with  State  and  local  organizations,  report 
that  during  the  six  months'  period  January  1  to  June  30,  1919, 
52,553  persons  were  registered  who  were  seeking  employment; 
53,561  requests  for  employees  were  received;  and  38,825  persons 
were  placed  by  these  offices. — [Compiled  from  statistics  furnished 
by  U.  S.  Employment  Service,  Aug.  8,  1919.] 

Citations  have  been  issued  by  the  United  States  "War  and  Navy 
Departments  to  523  firms  in  the  State,  these  employers  having  assured 
the  departments  that  they  will  reemploy  every  returned  service  man 
who  formerly  worked  for  them  and  left  to  serve  in  the  Army  or 
Navy  during  the  World  War. — [Memorandum  from  assistant  to 
Secretary  of  War  in  the  replacement  of  service  men  to  civil  life,  to 
U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Nov.  20,  1919.] 

It  is  announced  that  the  Federal  employment  bureau  at  Peters- 
burg will  continue  its  activities  until  Congress  reassembles  and 
makes  ]3rovision  for  its  maintenance.  Of  the  $700  needed  to  sustain 
the  bureau  for  three  months,  $200  is  to  be  raised  by  private  sub- 
scription. The  city  council,  the  chamber  of  commerce,  and  the 
retail  merchants'  association  have  given  $500  for  the  purpose. — • 
[News,  Petersburg,  Va.,  Mar.  22,  1919.] 

Working  with  the  Federal  employment  bureau  in  Petersburg,  the 
War  Camp  Community  Service  mailed  circular  letters  to  the  business 
men  of  the  city  requesting  them  to  list  available  positions  for  dis- 
charged service  men. — [Report  of  War  Camp  Connnunity  Service 
for  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  August,  1919.] 
Highways. 

The  next  general  assembly  of  the  State,  to  be  held  in  1920,  will 
take  up  the  consideration  of  a  constitutional  amendment  permitting 
the  State  to  issue  bonds  for  internal  improvements,  including  road 
construction. — [Bulletin  No.  46,  Highw^ays  Transport  Committee, 
U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense.] 

Many  roads  throughout  the  State  were  badly  crippled  during  the 
war.  They  had  been  built  for  light  travel  and  were  virtually  ruined 
by  the  heavy  Army  trucks  which  kept  up  a  constant  passage  over 
them.  Some  of  these  roads  have  already  been  repaired,  and  all  of 
them  will  be  some  time  in  the  future.  It  is  probable  that  an  ex- 
traordinary session  of  the  general  assembly  for  the  purpose  of  rais- 
ing taxes  sufficient  to  cover  the  cost  of  rebuilding  and  making  new 
roads  Avill  be  called.    If  this  extraordinary  session  is  not  called  the 


332        UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

next  general  assembly  is  expected  to  levy  a  tax  sufficient  for  this  pur- 
pose.— [Letter  from  Federal  field  secretary  of  Virginia  to  IT.  S. 
Council  of  National  Defense,  June  9,  1919.] 

On  October  1,  1919,  51  highway  projects  had  been  approved  in  the 
State,  involving  the  improvement  of  268.10  miles  of  road  at  a  total 
estimated  cost  of  $3,119,217.34,  of  which  the  Federal  Government 
is  requested  to  pay  $1,541,182.71  in  accordance  with  the  provisions 
of  the  Federal-aid  road  act  of  July  11,  1916,  as  amended  by  the  act 
of  February  28,  1919. — [Statement  prepared  by  Bureau  of  Public 
Roads,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture.] 

The  State  highway  commission  announces  plans  for  expenditures 
amounting  to  $60,000,000  during  the  next  six  years,  and  the  mileage 
proposed  is  3,730.  These  plans  are  based  upon  securing  $10,000,000 
from  the  Federal  Government  in  accordance  with  the  existing  sys- 
tem by  which  the  Government  is  contributing  to  the  higliAvay  ex- 
penditures of  the  various  States.  The  highway  commission  has 
been  and  is  noAv  active  in  approving  plans  and  specifications  for 
constructing  roads,  and  awarding  contracts.  It  recommends  a 
special  session  of  the  legislature  to  legalize  the  $60,000,000  plan 
announced. — [Public  Ledger,  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  July  17,  1919.] 
Housing  Accommodations. 

The  Richmond  Housing  Corporation  has  just  been  formed,  capi- 
talized at  $1,000,000,  for  the  purpose  of  helping  to  solve  the  serioub 
shortage  of  houses  and  also  to  attract  additional  industries  to  Rich- 
mond.— [Manufacturers  Record,  Baltimore,  Md.,  June  26,  1919.] 
Information  Service  for  Returned  Service  Men. 

The  local  branches  of  the  American  Red  Cross  are  cooperating 
with  other  organizations  in  establishing  contacts  with  service  men 
for  the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  adjustment  of  their  allotments, 
allowance  accounts,  compensation  and  claims,  and  the  reinstatement 
of  lapsed  or  canceled  insurance.  It  is  the  desire  of  the  Bureau  of 
"War  Risk  Insurance  that  all  inquiries  of  this  nature  be  cleared 
through  the  home-service  sections  of  the  American  Red  Cross.  Up 
to  April  1,  1919,  the  American  Red  Cross  had  organized  in  Virginia 
475  units  with  a  total  of  984  workers. — [Statement  prepared  by 
American  National  Red  Cross  for  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
November,  1919.] 
Land  Settlement. 

The  governor  has  been  asked  to  call  a  special  session  of  the  legis- 
lature in  order  to  raise  $2,000,000  with  which  to  assist  returning 
soldiers  in  purchasing  farms.  It  is  stated  that  there  are  between 
ten  and  twelve  thousand  acres  of  land  in  Virginia  available  for 
returning  soldiers. — [News-Leader,  Richmond,  Va.,  Mar.  13,  1919.] 

The  governor  has  appointed  a  committee  composed  of  11  persons 
to  represent  the  State  in  regard  to  matters  relating  to  the  settlement 


VIRGINIA.      ;  333 

of  returned  soldiers  upon  land. — [Memorandum  from  Reclamation 
Service,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  the  Interior  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National 
Defense,  July  1,  1919.] 

The  governor,  who  is  a  practical  farmer,  is  preparing  a  study  of 
agricultural  conditions  in  the  State  with  a  view  of  submitting,  if 
practicable,  a  proposition  to  the  next  general  assembly  having  for  its 
object  the  acquisition  of  large  tracts  of  good  land  capable  of  sub- 
division, to  be  offered  on  easy  terms  to  such  returning  soldiers  as 
desire  to  take  up  an  agricultural  life. — [Letter  from  Federal  field 
secretary  of  Virginia  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  June  9, 
1919.] 
Motor  Transport  Service. 

Through  its  highways  transport  committee,  of  which  the  State 
highway  commissioner  is  chairman,  the  State  council  of  defense  is 
conducting  an  educational  campaign  for  the  purpose  of  interesting 
people  in  the  country  districts  and  city  merchants  in  a  system  of 
motor-transj)ort  deliveries  within  accessible  distances  of  the  towns. 
Some  success  has  attended  this  effort  already,  and  there  are  motor- 
transport  routes  from  Washington  through  a  number  of  the  counties 
of  northern  Virginia.  Similar  routes  will  be  established  from  Eich- 
mond  as  soon  as  the  roads  are  placed  in  proper  condition. — [Letter 
from  Federal  field  secretary  of  Virginia  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National 
Defense,  June  9,  1919.] 
Public  Works. 

The  governor  has  mailed  circular  letters  to  court  clerks,  heads  of 
State  departments,  mayors,  and  business  managers  of  each  city  and 
town  in  the  State  asking  for  information  concerning  building  pro- 
grams for  the  next  year  or  two.  His  desire  is  to  obtain  information 
that  might  assist  returning  soldiers  in  obtaining  employment.  The 
letter  incloses  a  blank  in  the  form  of  a  questionnaire,  which  calls 
for  the  name  and  address  of  the  reporting  agency,  explanatory  re- 
marks, the  name  and  title  of  the  official  making  the  report,  and  the 
program  of  work.  The  governor  is  working  in  collaboration  with 
the  State  labor  commissioner  in  a  joint  effort  to  solve,  as  far  as  pos- 
sible, labor  conditions  in  the  State  and  to  provide  Avork  for  return- 
ing soldiers,  sailors,  and  marines. — [News-Leader,  Richmond,  Va., 
Mar.  18,  1919.] 

Reports  received  in  January,  1919,  cover  50  public  building  and 
construction  projects  which  were  under  way  or  contemplated  in  the 
State,  aggregating  an  estimated  value  of  $29,785,000.  Of  this  num- 
ber 20  were  street  improvements,  estimated  to  cost  $3,050,000 ;  and  8 
were  schools,  estimated  to  cost  $285,000. —  [Statistics  compiled  by  Di- 
vision of  Public  Works  and  Construction  Developments,  U.  S.  Dept. 
of  Labor,  Apr.  17,  1919.] 


334        UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

As  the  result  of  the  survey  of  public  works  made  by  the  governor 
to  obtain  specific  information  regarding  opportunities  for  employ- 
nient  for  returning  service  men  and  civilian  war  workers,  it  is  found 
that  a  total  of  approximately  $15,000,000  is  to  be  spent  for  improve- 
ments during  the  ensuing  year  by  the  State  and  local  governments. 
It  is  stated  that  the  survey  shows  about  one-half  of  this  total  ex- 
penditure will  be  made  for  labor  alone.  An  examination  of  the 
schedules  returned  and  compiled  at  the  governor's  office  also  shows 
that  $7,400,000  of  the  expenditures  for  public  works  for  1919-20 
represent  undertakings  that  were  actually  under  way  on  March  1  of 
this  year. — [Index-Appeal,  Petersburg,  Va.,  May  IT,  1919.] 
Rehabilitation  of  Disabled  Service  Men. 

Under  a  resolution  of  the  general  assembly  it  was  made  possible 
for  the  governor  to  form  a  commission  on  the  care  and  rehabilitation 
of  soldiers.  This  committee  has  supplemented  the  work  of  the 
United  States  War  Department  so  far  as  it  relates  to  the  rebuilding 
and  training  of  wounded  men,  and  has  available  a  very  valuable 
list  of  places  open  to  men  who  have  lost  a  leg,  an  arm,  an  eye, 
or  both  of  these  members.  Some  crippled  men  have  been  placed 
through  this  commission. — [Letter  from  Federal  field  secretary  of 
Virginia  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  June  9,  1919.] 
School  Gardens. 

School  gardens  are  being  conducted  in  21  cities  and  towns,  the  total 
present  enrollment  in  the  State  being  30,872.  In  Richmond  during 
the  fiscal  year  ending  June  30,  1919,  1,897  children  were  enrolled.— 
[Prepared  from  material  furnished  by  U.  S.  School  Garden  Army  to 
U.  s!^  Council  of  National  Defense,  Nov.  1,  1919.] 
Use  of  Government  Harbor  Improvements  for  Commerce. 

The  State  council  of  defense  is  now  engaged  in  making  a  com- 
prehensive survey  of  Government  improvements  of  the  Hampton 
Roads  section,  with  a  view  of  making  to  the  Government  a  definite 
and  reciprocally  profitable  offer  so  that  the  harbor  and  wharf  im- 
provements may  be  utilized  for  commerce,  thus  relieving  the  ship- 
ping congestion  at  the  northern  ports  and  facilitating  commerce 
throughout  the  whole  section  between  the  Appalachian  Mountains 
and  the  Mississippi  River. — [Letter  from  Federal  field  secretary  of 
Virginia  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  June  9, 1919.] 
Vocational  Reeducation  of  Disabled  Service  Men. 

In  accordance  with  section  2  of  the  Federal  Vocational  rehabili- 
tation act  of  June  27,  1918,  £^s  amended  July  11,  1919,  arrangements 
had  been  made  up  to  October  25,  1919,  by  the  Federal  Board  for 
Vocational  Education  with  16  educational  institutions  in  the  State 
for  the  reeducation  of  service  men  to  overcome  the  handicap  of  dis- 
abilities incurred  in  the  service.  A  total  of  114  such  men  have  been 
sent  to  these  institutions  for  training.    Arrangements  have  also  been 


WASHINGTON".  335 

imid&  by  this  board  with  seven  industrial  establishments  in  the  Stale 
Avhereby  the  later  have  underaken  to  train  seven  disabled  men.— 
[Compiled   from   statement  prepared   by   Rehabilitation   Division, 
Federal  Board  for  Vocational  Education.] 
Woman's  Committee. 

The  State  division  of  the  Woman's  Committee,  United  States 
Council  of  National  Defense,  is  extending  its  organization,  and  more 
effective  work  is  now  being  done  than  during  the  war.  The  division 
is  working  in  cooperation  with  the  State  council  of  defense.  Tlic 
plan  of  making  community  organizations  permanent  by  continuing 
the  local  councils  of  defense  has  been  received  with  favor,  but  no 
definite  action  has  yet  been  taken. — [Statement  by  chairman,  State 
divisions  of  the  Woman's  Committee,  U.  S.  Council  of  Defense,  at  a 
conference,  Washington,  D.  C,  Feb.  12,  1919.] 

WASHINGTON. 

Americanization. 

The  legislature  has  before  it  a  bill  providing  for  the  appointment 
of  •'  home  teachers  "  to  work  in  the  homes  of  aliens,  to  teach  the 
principles  of  Americanism,  housekeeping,  marketing,  citizenship, 
and  sanitation. — [American,  Bellingham,  Wash.,  Feb.  26,  1919.] 

The  Seattle  schools  maintain  an  ''  All-year-round  "  Americaniza- 
tion class,  with  a  constant  enrollment  of  over  100,  and  a 
practically  complete  turnover  of  attendance  of  membership  several 
times  a  year. — [Compiled  from  forthcoming  report  of  director  of 
citizenship  to  Commissioner  of  Naturalization,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor, 
1920.] 
Assistance  to  Service  Men  and  Their  Families. 

With  the  purpose  of  aiding  returning  soldiers  and  sailors  in  em- 
plojanent,  a  corporation  with  a  capitalization  of  $50,000  has  been 
organized  by  men  of  Spokane.  Money  will  be  loaned  at  a  low  rate, 
or  without  interest,  to  men  from  the  service  who  are  in  need  of 
funds. — [Chronicle,  Spokane,  Wash.,  Jan.  29,  1919.] 

The  State  legislature  has  appointed  a  connnittee  to  confer  with 
the  legislatures  of  Oregon,  Idaho,  and  Montana,  and  the  various 
existing  commissions  appointed  to  expend  State  funds  for  the  relief 
of  soldiers.  The  committee  will  endeavor  to  secure  coordinating 
legislation  by  which  the  various  commissions  will  be  interlocked 
and  interrelated.  The  Washington  committee  will  urge  that  the 
broadest  possible  scope  be  given  each  individual  commission. — 
[Oregonian,  Portland,  Greg.,  Feb.  4,  1919.] 

A  workingmen's  and  soldiers'  council,  the  pur^^ose  of  which  will  be 
to  provide  immediate  financial  relief  for  returned  soldiers  in  Aber- 
deen, was  organized  by  representatives  of  the  central  labor  council, 
the  metal  trades  council,  and  returned  soldiers.    At  the  preliminary 


336       UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

meeting,  which  was  attended  by  about  20  soldiers,  temporary  or- 
ganization was  effected  which  empowered  the  temporary  offices  to 
give  immediate  financial  assistance  to  men  in  uniform  applying  for 
it.  The  permanent  organization  of  the  council  will  be  directed  by 
three  delegates  from  the  metal  trades  council  and  three  soldiers 
elected  from  those  present  at  the  preliminary  meeting. — [World, 
Aberdeen,  Wash.,  Feb.  8,  1919.] 

The  code  of  the  State  has  been  amended  so  as  to  provide  relief 
for  indigent  and  suffering  soldiers  of  the  war  with  Germany  and 
their  families,  or  the  families  of  those  deceased,  who  need  assistance 
in  any  city,  town,  or  precinct  in  the  State.  For  this  purpose  the 
board  of  commissioners  of  the  county  in  which  such  city,  town,  or 
precinct  is  situated,  shall  provide  as  much  money  as  may  be  neces- 
sary, to  be  drawn  upon  by  the  commander  and  quartermaster  of  any 
post  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  or  camp  of  the  United 
Spanish- American  War  Veterans  in  such  city  or  town,  upon  recom- 
mendation from  the  relief  committee  of  the  post  or  camp,  in  the 
same  manner  as  was  previously  provided  for  the  relief  of  veterans 
of  the  Civil  and  Spanish-American  Wars.  Such  soldiers,  sailors,  or 
marines,  or  the  families  of  those  deceased,  must  have  been  residents 
of  the  State  for  at  least  12  months,  and  the  orders  of  the  commander 
and  quartermaster  shall  be  the  proper  voucher  for  the  expenditure 
of  these  sums  of  money. — [Laws  of  Washington,  1919,  H.  42.] 
**  Back-to-School "  Drive. 

A  definite  campaign  was  instituted  to  insure  return  and  attendance 
of  all  children  to  school.  A  good  deal  of  work  was  done  by  various 
organizations  of  the  State.  The  "Back-to-school  drive,  however, 
was  not  officially  promoted  by  the  child  welfare  section  of  the  State 
division  of  the  Woman's  Committee. —  [Report  of  child  conservation 
section  of  the  Field  Division  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
Oct.  1,  1918,  to  July  1,  1919.] 
Bonuses  for  Service  Men. 

A  bill  proposing  to  give  every  Washington  man  who  was  in 
the  service  a  special  bonus  of  $10  a  month  for  every  month  served, 
has  been  defeated  in  the  State  legislature.  Defeat  of  the  bill 
resulted  from  passage  of  a  bonus  act  by  Congress  and  by  the  fact 
that  the  legislature  could  find  no  way  to  raise  the  money  needed  to 
pay  the  bonus. — [Herald,  Everett,  Wash.,  Mar.  13,  1919.] 
Council  of  Defense. 

State  and  county  councils  of  defense  are  inactive  but  subject  to 
call.  No  attempt  is  being  made  to  establish  community  councils  on' 
a  peraaanent  basis. — [Reply  from  State  council  of  defense  to  ques- 
tionnaire of  the  Field  Division,  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
July   1,  1919.] 


WASHINGTON-.  337 

Education  of  Returned  Service  Men. 

House  bill  104  passed  by  the  legislature,  authorizes  the  board 
of  regents  of  the  University  of  Washington  to  fix  the  amount  of  the 
different  student  fees  provided  for.  The  bill  provides  that  students 
AA'ho  served  during  the  war  with  Germany  in  the  military  forces  of 
the  United  States,  or  as  nurses,  shall  be  exempt  from  most  of  the 
fees. — [Letter  from  superintendent  of  public  instruction  of  Wash- 
ington to  U.  S.  Commissioner  of  Education,  Apr.  1,  1919.] 

Employment. 

The  labor  situation  is,  with  very  few  exceptions,  much  more 
favorable  than  in  the  average  year  prior  to  1917.  Throughout  the 
whole  vast  agricultural  section  of  the  State  for  weeks  past  it  has 
been  possible  for  any  able-bodied  man  to  find  employment  very 
easily  at  wages  ranging  from  $G5  a  month,  up,  besides  board  and 
room.  Experienced  men  are  receiving  extremely  good  wages,  rang- 
ing from  $100  to  $150,  depending  upon  their  ability.  In  the  smaller 
towns  of  the  State  the  normal  lines  of  activity  have  recently  reached 
a  pitch  where  there  is  no  difficulty  finding  employment  for  any 
able-bodied  man  willing  to  do  ordinary  hard  work.  Specially 
skilled  mechanics  and  highly  trained  men  in  other  lines  can  usually 
be  placed  with  a  reasonable  expenditure  of  effort,  though  until  the 
reconstruction  period  is  over  the  employers  largely  are  insisting 
on  taking  residents  of  the  State  who  were  in  the  Army  or  Navy. 
In  Seattle,  Tacoma,  and  Spokane  the  situation  is  improving  con- 
stantly and  while  there  are  still  many  men  seeking  better  employ- 
ment or  higher  wages  than  they  are  now  receiving,  the  problem  is 
one  of  proper  placing  rather  than  one  of  an  insufficient  number  of 
jobs. 

In  the  city  of  Seattle,  where  probably  three- fourths  of  the  acute 
employment  problems  of  the  State  are  found,  there  is  the  utmost 
cooperation  betAveen  the  various  agencies  interested  in  the  welfare 
of  the  returned  soldiers  and  sailors.  The  soldiers'  and  sailors'  place- 
ment bureau,  operating  in  conjunction  with  the  United  States  Em- 
ployment Service  and  maintained  by  the  cooperative  efforts  of  the 
War  Camp  Community  Service,  National  Catholic  War  Council, 
Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  Jewish  Welfare  Board,  Veterans' 
Welfare  Commission,  and  other  agencies,  is  placing  an  average  of 
2,000  men  per  month  in  employment.  Each  of  the  agencies  named 
maintains  a  paid  representative  at  the  placement  bureau  and,  in  addi- 
tion to  this,  the  commission  is  employing  two  or  more  solicitors  to 
constantly  scour  the  city  for  jobs,  and  through  its  own  office  is  able 
to  offer  the  services  of  a  staff  of  trained  workers  to  assist  in  finding 
suitable  employment  for  those  men  who  are  not  readily  placed 
through  the  bureau.  A  threatened  conflict  or  duplication  of  effort, 
1342SG''— 20 22 


338        UIS^ITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

arising  out  of  the  fact  that  the  American  Legion  of  Liberty  and  the 
soldiers'  and  sailors'  council  are  also  doing  employment  work,  has 
been  successfully  evaded  by  a  mutual  agreement  under  which  neither 
tigency  solicits  jobs  from  an  employer  who  is  using  another  agency. 
On  the  other  hand,  the  solicitors  for  the  commission  "  boost "  the 
work  of  the  American  Legion  of  Liberty  and  list  jobs  with  that  or- 
ganization where  such  seems  to  be  the  desire  of  the  employer.  The 
soldiers'  and  sailors'  council,  composed  of  ex-service  men  who  strongly 
favor  labor  unions,  is  in  position  to  render  special  service  to  its  mem- 
bers in  securing  them  employment  on  union  jobs,  either  upon  their 
joining  the  union  or  through  a  form  of  special  permit  which  has  been 
adopted.  The  majority  of  the  shipyards  in  Seattle  are  "  closed  shop," 
and  ex-service  men  are  able  to  secure  special  privileges  through  their 
membership  in  the  soldiers'  and  sailors'  council. 

All  agencies  throughout  the  State  are  being  kept  in  close  touch 
with  the  work  of  the  Rehabilitation  Division  of  the  Federal  Board 
for  Vocational  Training;  United  States  Public  Health  Service;  and- 
all  other  State  and  Federal  agencies  having  special  responsibilities 
in  the  work.  The  telegraph  and  long-distance  telephone  service  is 
used  freely  in  placing  men  in  employment  over  the  State,  and  in 
arranging  for  their  prompt  and  proper  treatment  where  special  at- 
tention is  needed.  Public  works  generally  are  going  ahead  rapidly, 
and  while  the  ex-service  man  as  a  rule  will  not  take  employment  on 
roads  or  many  other  forms  of  common  labor,  this  class  of  improve- 
ment absorbs  a  large  body  of  workers  who  would  otherwise  be  com- 
peting with  the  ex-service  men  for  employment.  Lumber  camps  are 
active,  private  building  is  in  full  swing,  in  Seattle  particularly,  and 
the  general  industrial  situation  is  apparent^  on  the  upward  trend 
with  a  long  period  of  prosperity  ahead. — [Letter  from  Washington 
Veterans'  Welfare  Commission  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  De- 
fense, May  28,  1919.] 

Employment  offices  maintained  in  Washington  by  the  Federal 
Government  in  cooperation  with  State  and  local  organizations,  re- 
port that  during  the  six  months'  period,  January  1  to  June  30,  1919, 
77,044  persons  were  registered  who  were  seeking  employment ;  84,397 
requests  for  employees  were  received;  and  41,107  persons  were  placed 
by  these  offices. — [Compiled  from  statistics  furnished  by  U.  S.  Em- 
ployment Service,  Aug.  8,  1919.] 

Citations  have  been  issued  by  the  United  States  War  and  Navy 
Departments  to  1,863  firms  in  the  State,  these  employers  having 
assured  the  departments  that  they  will  reemploy  every  returned 
service  man  who  formerly  worked  for  them  and  left  to  serve  in  the 
Army  or  Navy  during  the  World  War. — [Memorandum  from  assist- 
ant to  Secretary  of  War  in  the  replacement  of  service  men  to  civil 
life,  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Nov.  20,  1919.] 


WASHINGTON-.  339 

The  mayor  of  Aberdeen  and  all  the  members  of  the  city  council 
have  agreed  to  give  up  one  week  of  their  March  salaries  to  the  Aber- 
deen Soldier  and  Sailor  League.  The  gift  is  in  recognition  of  tlie 
work  the  league  is  accomplishing  in  finding  employment  for  returned 
soldiers.— [World,  Aberdeen,  Wash.,  Mar.  13,  1919.] 

Employers  in  Olympia  responded  heartily  to  letters  sent  by  the 
War  Gamp  Community  Service  asking  them  to  turn  their  attention 
to  reemploying  the  soldiers  Avho  were  about  to  return  to  the  city. 
Many  men  were  placed  in  good  positions  through  this  method. — 
[Report  of  War  Camp  Community  Service  for  U.  S.  Council  of 
National  Defense,  August,  1919.] 

The  soldiers'  and  sailors'  placement  and  information  bureau  in 
Seattle  is  making  renewed  efforts  to  list  a  large  number  of  jobs  to 
offer  the  returning  men  wdien  they  arrive  home. — [Times,  Seattle, 
Wash.,  Mar.  20,  1919.] 

The  soldiers',  sailors',  and  marines'  council,  which  is  said  to  have 
about  2,000  returned  service  men  on  its  rolls,  was  organized  in 
Seattle  in  January.  Good  work  is  being  done  by  the  council  in 
placing  returned  men  in  positions  and  helping  them  in  other  ways. — 
[Clironicle,  San  Francisco,  Calif.,  Mar.  26,  1919.] 
Foreign  Languages  in  Schools. 

Teaching  in  foreign  languages  will  be  prohibited  in  the  State  if 
a  bill  introduced  in  the  house  of  representatives  becomes  a  law. 
This  measure  is  introduced  with  the  hope  that  it  will  be  a  step  toward 
the  Americanization  of  all  public  schools,  and  is  aimed  to  do  away 
with  such  institutions  as  German,  Italian,  Japanese,  and  Scandi- 
navian schools. — [Herald,  Everett,  Wash.,  Mar.  5,  1919.] 

Foreign  Trade. 

In  order  to  promote  trade  in  Siberia,  the  Seattle  Chamber  of  Com- 
merce and  Commercial  Club  has  briefed  the  contents  of  all  books 
published  in  English  bearing  upon  the  resources  and  economic  de- 
velopment of  that  country.  When  the  digest  is  finished,  it  is  be- 
lieved that  it  will  contain  as  complete  and  up-to-date  data  upon 
Siberia  as  are  extant.  In  further  anticipation  of  trade  with  Russia, 
the  chamber  of  commerce  has  established  classes  in  which  a  large 
number  of  students  are  studying  the  Russian  language. — [Letter 
from  the  Seattle  Chamber  of  Commerce  and  Commercial  Club  to 
Chamber  of  Commerce  of  U.  S.  A.,  Sept.  18,  1918.] 

Business  interests  of  Seattle  are  giving  close  attention  to  the  ques- 
tion of  trade  relations  with  Siberia,  and  to  further  this  project  it  is 
proposed  to  inaugurate  regular  sailings  of  American  merchant  ships 
to  Siberia. — [Christian  Science  Monitor,  Boston,  Mass.,  Feb.  27, 
1919.] 


340        UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

Highways. 

An  act,  approved  February  5,  reappropriates  $600,000  from  tho 
public  highway  fund,  and  appropriated  $4,000,000  from  the  perma- 
nent highway  fund,  to  complete  contracts  already  entered  into  and 
to  provide  for  new  contracts.  Under  the  law  of  1918,  these  funds 
may  be  made  available  for  hiring  returned  soldiers  at  good  wages, 
notwithstanding  other  labor  on  the  market. — [Laws  of  Washington, 
1919,  ch.  10.] 

The  chief  engineer  of  the  State  advises  that  the  State  legislature 
has  enacted  a  bonding  law  providing  $30,000,000  for  road  construc- 
tion covering  about  1,400  miles  of  the  primary  highway  system  of 
the  State.  The  proposition,  however,  must  be  voted  on  by  the  people 
in  November,  1920,  and  receive  a  majority  vote  ratifying  the  same. — 
[Bulletin  No.  47,  Highways  Transport  Committee,  U.  S.  Council  of 
National  Defense.] 

The  first  of  the  road  work  in  the  State  that  will  provide  employ- 
ment for  soldiers  is  ready  to  open.  The  Federal  employment  offices 
are  noAv  taking  applications  for  such  work.  The  State  highway 
department,  with  twice  as  much  money  to  spend  this  year  as  ever 
before,  is  rushing  plans  for  extensive  road  work.  On  March  17  bids 
will  be  opened  on  10  pieces  of  work  in  various  parts  of  the  State, 
and  immediately  thereafter  bids  will  be  called  for  on  work  that 
will  aggregate  more  than  $2,000,000. — [Post-Intelligencer,  Seattle, 
Wash.,  Mar.  8,  1919.] 

An  act,  approved  March  12,  provides  for  extensive  highway  con- 
struction. By  nearly  doubling  the  license  on  motor  vehicles  a 
fund  is  provided  from  which  $10,000,000  is  appropriated  for  the 
construction  of  permanent  roads,  and  the  road  bill  provides  for  a 
referendum  to  the  people  at  the  next  general  election,  of  a  plan  to 
bond  the  motor-vehicle  fund  for  $30,000,000  for  the  construction 
of  trunk-line  highways. — [Laws  of  Washington,  1919,  ch.  99.] 

In  order  to  provide  immediate  w^ork  while  other  contracts  arc 
being  let,  the  legislature  has  passed  a  bill  appropriating  $50,000  for 
the  Olympic  Highway  at  Duckabush.  This  work  is  already  under 
way,  and  the  State  has  barracks  near  the  job  w^here  the  soldiers  em- 
ployed can  be  housed. — [Tribune,  Tacoma,  Wash.,  Mar.  15,  1919.] 

A  bill  has  been  passed  by  the  legislature  and  approved  by  tho 
governor  authorizing  the  expenditure  of  $2,087,000  from  the  public 
highway  fund  and  $1,987,000  from  the  motor-vehicle  fund  for  the 
construction,  improvement,  and  paving  of  various  primary  and 
secondary  highways  of  the  State. — [Laws  of  Washington,  1919,  S. 
265.] 

On  October  1,  1919,  41  highway  projects  had  been  approved  in  tho 
State,  involving  the  improvement  of  251.05  miles  of  road  at  a  total 
estimated  cost  of  $4,616,767.66,  of  w^hich  the  Federal  Government  is 


WASHIirGTON.  341 

requested  to  pay  $2,216,983.33  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of 
the  Federal-aid  road  act  of  July  11,  1916,  as  amended  by  the  act  of 
February  28,  1919. — [Statement    prepared    by    Bureau    of    Public 
Koads,  U.  S-  Dept.  of  Agriculture.] 
Information  Service  for  Returned  Service  Men. 

The  local  branches  of  the  American  Red  Cross  are  cooperating 
with  other  organizations  in  establishing  contacts  with  service  men 
for  the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  adjustment  of  their  allotments, 
allowance  accounts,  compensation  and  claims,  and  the  reinstatement 
of  lapsed  or  canceled  insurance.  It  is  the  desire  of  the  Bureau  of 
War  Risk  Insurance  that  all  inquiries  of  this  nature  be  cleared 
through  the  home-service  sections  of  the  American  Red  Cross.  Up 
to  April  1, 1919,  the  American  Red  Cross  had  organized  in  Washing- 
ton 176  units  with  a  total  of  3T1  workers. — [Statement  prepared  by 
American  National  Red  Cross  for  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
November,  1919.] 
Home  Building. 

It  is  the  intention  to  commence  an  "  Own-your-own-home  "  cam- 
paign in  Spokane  to  continue  for  60  days.  All  agencies  in  the  city 
will  be  used  for  the  purpose  of  impressing  upon  the  public  the 
desirability  of  home  owning. — [Publication  of  the  Madison  Associa- 
tion of  Commerce,  Mar.  29,  1919.] 
Housing  Accommodations. 

At  Bremerton  245  frame  houses  are  being  built,  and,  in  addition, 
a  hotel  of  355  rooms,  and  3  apartment  houses  accommodating  45 
families. 

The  More  Homes  Bureau  of  Seattle  has  financed  and  built  2,000 
homes  and  has  plans  for  the  completion  of  3,000  more. — [Housing 
Betterment,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  June,  1919.] 

land  Reclamation. 

Establishment  of  a  State  reclamation  service  modeled  after  the 
Federal  service,  to  supervise  the  reclamation  and  settlement  of 
w^aste  lands  as  one  of  the  concrete  factors  in  postwar  readjustment, 
is  proposed  in  a  bill  which  has  been  drafted  by  various  State-wide 
organizations  through  the  State  reconstruction  congress.  The  new 
measure  aims  to  take  the  returned  service  man  when  he  arrives  home 
and  reestablish  him  in  civil  life,  commensurable  with  his  sacrifice; 
stimulate  the  development  of  the  State;  and  make  land  available 
for  settlement  and  development  by  the  people  in  the  overcrowded 
industrial  centers. — [Union,  Walla  Walla,  Wash.,  Feb.  3,  1919.] 

The  reports  of  timber-land  areas  covering  this  State  include  only 
assessed  lands,  exclusive  of  forest  reserves,  town  and  city  lots,  and 
State  and  Government  lands.  It  is  estimated  that  the  logged-off  land 
in  this  State  suitable  for  agriculture  and  not  yet  cultivated  is  sufficient 


842        UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

to  support  50,000  families.  The  State  land-settlement  association,  in 
addition  to  cooperating  with  the  United  States  Department  of  the. 
Interior,  is  attempting  to  initiate  local  action  through  the  State 
legislature.  It  has  prepared  a  bill  which  provides  for  a  land-settle- 
ment board  to  handle  this  project  on  behalf  of  the  State,  and  for  a 
revolving  fund  of  $1,000,000  for  purchase  and  improvement  of  idle 
land  in  cooperation  with  the  Federal  Government,  to  the  end  that 
returning  soldiers  and  other  citizens  desirous  of  making  homes  upon 
the  land  may  be  provided  with  income-producing  farms  fully 
equipped  and  stocked,  with  a  modern  home,  and  all  the  conveniences 
needed  to  make  life  upon  the  farm  as  attractive  as  city  life. — [Letter 
from  seci^etary,  Chamber  of  Commerce  of  U.  S.  A.  to  Upper  Penin- 
sula Development  Bureau  of  Michigan,  Feb.  20,  1919.] 

Under  an  act,  approved  March  18,  known  as  the  State  reclamation 
act,  there  is  created  a  State  reclamation  revolving  fund  to  eventually 
attain  a  total  of  $5,000,000.    There  is  also  appropriated  the  sum  of 
$1,050,000.— [Laws  of  Washington,  1919,  ch.  158.] 
Land  Settlement. 

At  least  5,000,000  more  acres  of  land  will  be  reclaimed  in  the  State 
and  brought  under  cultivation  through  the  passage  of  three  recla- 
mation and  land-settlement  bills  by  the  last  State  legislature.  The 
three  bills  are  known  as  the  reclamation  act,  the  land-settlement  act, 
and  the  act  submitting  to  the  people  at  the  next  general  election  of 
a  constitutional  amendment  to  permit  the  condemnation  of  land  for 
reclamation  and  settlement  purposes.  The  reclamation  act  provides 
for  a  State  reclamation  service  and  establishes  a  reclamation  board 
to  administer  a  revolving  fund,  which  may  in  10  years  reach  the 
total  of  $5,000,000.  This  fund  will  be  used  in  financing  reclama- 
tion projects.  Under  this  act  there  may  be  reclaimed  in  the  State 
approximately  5,500,000  acres  of  land  now  unsuitable  for  the  pro- 
duction of  agricultural  products.  The  land-settlement  act  en- 
larges the  powers  of  the  reclamation  board  so  that  these  lands  Avhen 
reclaimed  may  be  successfully  settled.  It  provides  for  the  State's 
acquiring  the  lands  and  improving  them  to  such  an  extent  as  is 
feasible,  and  selling  them  at  cost  to  actual  settlers  and  returned  sol- 
diers and  sailors  with  payments  spread  over  a  long  term  of  years  at 
low  rates  of  interest.  By  means  of  the  land-settlement  act  these 
lands  will  be  brought  most  quickly  into  a  producing  stage,  thereby 
returning  to  the  State  within  a  few  years  through  increase  in  the 
taxable  wealth  and  through  the  production  of  agricultural  wealth 
many  times  more  than  the  amount  expended  on  them.  In  the  end 
the  total  amount  appropriated  by  the  State  will  be  returned  to  the 
State  so  that  the  development  will  have  been  accomplished  at  no  ex- 
pense to  it. — [Publication  of  the  Seattle  Chamber  of  Commerce,  Mar. 
20,  1919.] 


WASHINGTON.  343 

What  is  known  as  the  land-settlement  act  was  created  under  the 
terms  of  an  act  approved  March  20.  This  act  provides  for  coopera- 
tion with  the  Federal  Government  in  soldier  settlements,  and  makes 
ail  appropriation  of  $150,000  from  the  State  reclamation  revolving 
fund  and  $10,000  from,  the  general  fund.— [Laws  of  Washington, 
1919,  ch.  188.] 
Preference  to  Returned  Service  Men  in  Public  Employment. 

An  act  has  been  approved  extending  to  veterans  of  the  war  with 
Germany,  the  provisions  of  a  previous  act  granting  preference  to 
veterans  of  the  Civil  and  Spanish- American  Wars  and  their  widows 
in  appointment  and  employment  in  every  public  department  and 
upon  all  public  w^orks  of  the  State. — [Information  Bureau,  American 
National  Eed  Cross,  Compendium  Change  No.  117.] 
Public  Works. 

Three  acts,  approved  February  14,  provide  for  the  construction  of 
new  armories.  The  sum  of  $125,000  is  appropriated  for  an  armory  at 
Everett,  $100,000  for  an  armory  at  Aberdeen,  and  $100,000  for  an 
armory  at  Walla  Walla.— [Laws  of  Washington,  1919,  clis.  19,20,21.] 

An  act,  approved  February  18,  provides  for  the  erection  of  several 
new  capitol  buildings,  and  a  State  monument  to  soldiers,  sailors,  and 
marines-  The  entire  work  will  cost  $3,500,000,  and  the  sum  of 
$2,500,000  is  appropriated  to  be  spent  on  the  buildings  and  the 
memorial  during  the  next  biennial  period. — [Laws  of  Washington, 
1919,  ch.  34.] 

Reports  received  in  January,  1919,  cover  50  public  building  and 
construction  projects  which  were  under  way  or  contemplated  in  the 
State,  aggregating  an  estimated  value  of  $13,080,000.  Of  this  num- 
ber 12  were  street  improvements,  estimated  to  cost  $17,590,000;  5 
were  sewers,  estimated  to  cost  $3,325,000;  and  5  were  schools,  esti- 
mated to  cost  $890,000. — [Statistics  compiled  by  Division  of  Public 
Works  and  Construction  Developments,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor,  Apr. 
17,  1919.] 

The  board  commission  of  Seattle  awarded,  January  10,  the  con- 
tract for  the  initial  construction  of  a  pier  to  cost  $2,300,000,  which  is 
planned  to  facilitate  the  handling  of  new  oriental  trade. — [Dun's 
Review,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  11,  1919.] 

The  city  of  Tacoma  is  undertaking  extensive  reconstruction  work 
at  present  and  planning  still  more  for  the  future.  Various  projects, 
the  cost  of  which  will  run  up  into  millions  of  dollars,  have  been  or 
will  be  started  by  the  city  soon,  which  will  provide  work  for  thou- 
sands of  men.  One  of  the  largest  individual  projects  is  the  entire 
reconstruction  of  the  city  sewerage  system,  at  a  cost  estimated  around 
$2,000,000.  Not  only  the  city,  but  private  interests  as  well,  are  un- 
dertaking construction  projects  which  will  give  employment  to  re- 
turning soldiers. — [Ledger,  Tacoma,  Wash.,  Mar.  23,  1919.] 


344       UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  KECONSTRUCTION. 

Reconstruction  Congress. 

A  call  for  a  State-wide  reconstruction  congress  at  Tacoma  on  Janu- 
ary 9,  for  the  purpose  of  giving  consideration  to,  and  taking  action 
upon,  such  problems  of  readjustment  and  reconstruction  as  may  be 
deemed  advisable,  was  sent  out  by  a  committee  of  the  preliminary 
conference  which  met  in  Tacoma  in  December.  Delegates  from  the 
reconstruction  congress  of  King  County  will  go  to  the  conference  with 
instructions  to  emphasize  the  importance  of  adopting  in  the  program 
for  postwar  development  the  State's  measures  that  pertain  to  con- 
struction, such  as  road  building,  the  reclamation  of  unused  lands,  the 
dcA^elopment  of  water  power,  marketing  and  storage,  and  land  settle- 
ment. As  a  means  of  furnishing  employment  of  returning  soldiers 
at  once,  pending  State  action,  various  municipalities  were  urged  to 
start  local  improvement  projects  as  quickly  as  possible. — [Post-In- 
telligencer, Seattle,  Wash.,  Jan.  7,  1919.] 

The  State  reconstruction  congress  has  put  itself  on  record  in  favor 
of  resolutions  embodying  proposed  legislation  for  good  roads,  land 
settlement,  social  welfare,  development  of  the  hydroelectric  power  of 
the  State,  development  of  the  Columbia  Basin  project  on  the  Oreille 
River,  employment  of  returned  soldiers,  physical  examination  of 
children  in  the  schools,  enlargement  of  the  scope  of  the  State  indus- 
trial insurance  commission,  ownership  and  operation  of  all  public 
utilities,  water  power,  and  coal  and  other  mines. — [World,  Aberdeen, 
Wash.,  Jan.  10,  1919.] 

The  city  of  Spokane  has  organized  a  reconstruction  congress 
composed  of  about  80  members,  representing  the  various  civic  and 
other  associations  of  the  city,  including  the  chamber  of  commerce, 
ministerial  association,  school-teachers'  association,  parent-teachers' 
association,  central  labor  council,  ad  club,  rotary  club,  employers' 
association,  city  council,  several  of  the  women's  clubs,  etc.  This  is 
considered  the  most  important  recent  community  undertaking  in 
Spokane.  The  reconstruction  congress  provided  for  the  organiza- 
tion of  an  industrial  conference  board,  composed  of  10  employers 
and  10  representatives  of  organized  labor,  all  appointed  by  the  com- 
munity labor  board.  The  industrial  conference  board  has  no  powers 
whatever;  its  function  being  simply  to  provide  an  opportunity  at 
the  meetings,  which  occur  every  two  weeks,  for  a  discussion  of  the 
problems  that  arise  between  capital  and  labor  and  for  a  thorough 
airing  of  all  views.  The  reconstruction  congress  itself  deals  with 
big,  general  problems.  Its  last  meeting  was  devoted  to  a  discussion 
of  the  traction  problem  and  was  participated  in  by  the  presidents 
of  the  two  local  traction  companies,  the  mayor,  and  the  presidents 
of  the  street  railway -men's  unions.  The  reconstruction  congress  also 
appointed  a  special  committee,  headed  by  the  mayor,  to  work  out 


WASHINGTON.  345 

a  policy  and  make  recommendations  in  regard  to  matters  of  health 
and  education.  The  work  and  recommendations  of  this  committee 
brought  about  the  establishment  in  the  chamber  of  commerce  of  an 
educational  bureau,  which  is  devoting  its  energies  to  building  up  an 
enlightened  citizenship.  This  bureau  is  now  supervising  the  work 
of  the  Americanization  committee,  which  is  enlarging  its  activities 
very  materially;  the  vocational  education  committee;  and  the  healtli 
and  sanitation  committee,  all  of  the  chamber  of  commerce.  The 
reconstruction  congress  is  also  launching  a  campaign  for  the  con- 
struction of  a  municipal  auditorium;  and  it  is  intended  to  make 
the  building  a  memorial  to  the  soldiers  who  were  in  the  war.  The 
discussions  and  suggestions  of  the  reconstruction  congress  have  re- 
sulted in  the  chamber  of  commerce  broadening  its  activities  along 
numerous  lines. — [American  City,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  May,  1919.] 
Reconstruction  Plans. 

The  undertaking  of  a  peace-time  community  welfare  program, 
with  the  making  of  Aberdeen  a  better  place  to  live  in  as  its  aim, 
was  unanimously  indorsed  by  the  committee  of  100.  The  committee 
also  voted  to  finance  the  program  by  subscribing  and  asking  all 
workers  to  subscribe  25  cents  a  week  to  the  cause.  The  proposal  of 
a  $50,000  clubhouse  for  the  soldiers  and  sailors  was  also  indorsed 
by  the  committee,  which  pledged  to  hold  itself  in  readiness  for  the 
$50,000  drive  ^Yhenever  made.  Incorporated  in  the  general  program 
for  a  better  city  was  welfare  w^ork  and  nursing,  to  be  conducted  by 
the  Aberdeen  Chapter  of  the  American  Red  Cross;  and  the  organi- 
zations of  boys'  and  girls'  clubs  under  the  direction  of  skilled  work- 
ers.—[World,  Aberdeen,  Wash.,  May  15,  1919.] 

Reconstruction  questions  of  Seattle  and  King  Counties  are  to  be 
considered  by  a  commission  that  has  been  appointed  by  the  mayor 
of  Seattle,  which  will  cooperate  with  similar  commissions  through- 
out the  State.  The  authorities  are  planning  to  commence  work  on 
public  improvements  to  cost  approximately  $12,500,000. — [Engineer- 
ing News  Record,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Mar.  13,  1919.] 

The  Seattle  municipal  league  recently  referred  to  its  legislative 
committee  the  formulation  of  a  reconstruction  program.  This  com- 
mittee on  March  3  brought  in  a  preamble  and  outline  of  definite 
action  for  consideration  and  adoption  by  the  league,  w^hich  included, 
among  other  things,  definite  proposals  for  legislation  and  propaganda 
along  the  following  lines :  A  system  providing  for  old-age  pensions ; 
unemployment  insurance;  health  insurance  with  maternity  benefits; 
maximums  for  working  tim^;  minimums  for  working  wage;  a  method 
or  board  for  conciliation  and  equitable  adjustment  of  labor  disputes; 
cheap  and  rapid  transit  for  city,  county,  and  State ;  cheap  light  and 
power  for  city  and  country;  State  credit  aid  for  rural  development, 


346       UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

including  cheap  land,  cheap  power,  cheap  water,  and  good  roads ;  and 
garden  homes  for  suburban  residents. — [Survey,  New  York,  N.  Y., 
Apr.  5,  1919.] 

The  reconstruction  board  of  the  Seattle  Chamber  of  Commerce  is 
advocating  a  readjustment  program  to  promote  the  interests  of  Seat- 
tle. Among  the  subjects  included  in  the  program  are  the  develop- 
ment and  permanency  of  Seattle's  present  plans,  early  develop- 
ment of  additional  permanent  factories,  establishment  of  closer  rela- 
tionship with  foreign  countries,  holding  of  present  foreign  trade, 
learning  of  trade  opportunities  in  Siberia,  broadening  of  trade  rela- 
tions, the  development  of  Alaska,  settlement  and  development  of 
State  land,  community  development,  and  creation  of  interest  in  civic 
affairs. — [Folder  of  reconstruction  board  of  Seattle  Chamber  of 
Commerce  and  Commercial  Club.] 
School  Gardens. 

School  gardens  are  being  conducted  in  30  cities  and  towns,  the 
total  present  enrollment  in  the  State  being  17,750.  In  Seattle  during 
the  fiscal  year  ending  June  30,  1919,  when  8,000  children  Avere  en- 
rolled, the  value  of  the  school-garden  products  amounted  to  $60,000, 
or  $7.50  per  capita. — [Prepared  from  material  furnished  by  IT.  S. 
School  Garden  Army  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Nov.  1, 
1919.] 
Veterans'  Welfare  Commission. 

Under  an  act,  approved  February  1,  there  is  created  a  com- 
mission to  be  known  as  the  Veterans'  Welfare  Commission,  whose 
duty  it  shall  be  to  disburse  the  funds  appropriated  by  this  act  or  any 
subsequent  appropriation  made  for  such  purposes  for  the  welfare  of 
the  veterans  and  the  soldiers,  sailors,  and  marines  of  the  United 
States  in  the  war  with  Germany.  For  the  carrying  out  of  the  pur- 
poses of  this  act  there  is  appropriated  the  sum  of  $500,000. — [Laws 
of  Washington,  1919,  eh.  9.] 

Although  the  State  appropriated  $500,000  to  be  used  by  the  Wash- 
ington Veterans'  Welfare  Commission  for  the  welfare  of  the  ex-serv- 
ice men,  the  commission  has  found  that  the  facilities  and  funds  of 
the  American  Eed  Cross  were  such  as  to  render  the  extension  of  ordi- 
nary relief  work  by  the  commission  unnecessary,  except  for  a  very 
few  cases  which  develop  from  time  to  time  chiefly  through  temporary 
defects  in  the  American  Red  Cross  machinery.  Close  students  of  the 
situation  are  quite  free  to  admit  that  in  the  State  the  giving  of  money 
relief  has  been  generally  too  free  rather  than  too  difficult.  In  several 
instances  the  abuse  of  the  privileges  afforded  the  ex-service  men  has 
grown  to  such  an  extent  that  the  serious  "harm  to  the  men  themselves 
was  most  apparent.  The  commission  is  rendering  financial  assistance 
chiefly  to  ex-service  men,  who  are  reestablishing  themselves  in  busi- 
ness, by  making  loans  on  personal  responsibility  or  on  forms  of  se- 


WEST  VIRGINIA.  347 

curity  wliicli  would  not  pass  muster  at  a  bank,  always  pursuant  to  the 
underlying  principle  that  the  measure  of  relief  rendered  should  be 
determined  largel}^  by  the  individual  need  shown.  Although,  natu- 
rally, the  commission  has  been  obliged  to  refuse  many  applications  for 
loans  it  may  be  conservatively  said  that  there  are  extremely  few,  if 
any,  instances  where  the  State  is  not  ready  to  advance  money  to  tide 
ex-service  men  over  a  temporary  need  in  their  own  business.  The  few 
exceptions  would  be  cases  where  the  amount  needed  w^as  so  large  as 
to  be  clearly  outside  the  field  which  could  be  covered  by  the  $500,000 
appropriated. — [Letter  from  Washington  Veterans'  Welfare  Com- 
mission to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  May  28,  1919.] 
Vocational  Reeducation. of  Disabled  Service  Men. 

In  accordance  with  section  2  of  the  Federal  vocational  rehabili- 
tation act  of  June  27,  1918,  as  amended  July  11,  1919,  arrangements 
had  been  made  up  to  October  25,  1919,  by  the  Federal  Board  for 
Vocational  Education  w^ith  IT  educational  institutions  in  the  State 
for  the  reeducation  of  service  men  to  overcome  the?  handicap  of  dis- 
abilities incurred  in  the  service.  A  total  of  251  such  men  haye  been 
sent  to  these  institutions  for  training.  Arrangements  have  also  been 
made  by  this  board  with  15  industrial  establishments  in  the  State 
wdiereby  the  latter  have  undertaken  to  train  a  total  of  43  disabled 
men. — [Compiled  from  statement  prepared  by  Rehabilitation  Divi- 
sion, Federal  Board  for  Vocational  Education.] 

WEST  VIKGINIA. 

"  Back-to-School  ''  Drive. 

The  "  Back-to-school  "  drive  in  Wheeling  is  active.    The  collegiate 
alumnae  association  has  taken  this  as  their  definite  work  for  this 
year. — [Letter  from  State  division  of  the  Woman's  Committee  to 
U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Feb.  22,  1919.] 
Council  of  Defense. 

A  bill  has  been  introduced  in  the  legislature  providing  that  the 
board  of  public  works,  heretofore  constituting  the  executive  State 
council  of  defense  and  the  advisory  State  council  of  defense,  shall  be 
continued  during  the  period  of  postwar  readjustment,  to  be  desig- 
nated as  the  Americanization,  Reconstruction,  and  Development  Coun- 
cils of  West  Virginia.  The  members  are  to  serve  without  pay,  except 
reimbursement  of  actual,  necessary  expenses.  The  purpose  of  the 
councils  and  other  voluntary  organizations  will  be:  To  cooperate 
with  the  Federal  Government  in  encouraging  educational,  indus- 
trial, and  vocational  pursuits  for  foreign-born  residents  of  the  State 
of  all  races  and  nationalities,  so  as  to  familiarize  and  unite  them 
with  the  institutions,  customs,  and  ideals  of  the  State,  and  to  train 
them  for  useful  American  citizenship;  and  to  encourage  and  stimu- 


348        UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

late  private  enterprises  and  public  AAorks  in  the  mutual  interest  of 
capital  and  labor;  and  to  establish  bureaus  for  the  employment  of 
returning  soldiers,  sailors,  and  other  unemployed  inhabitants  of  the 
State.— [West  Virginia  Legislature,  1919,  H.  1.] 

A  bill  has  passed  the  legislature  providing  for  the  continuance  of 
the  State  council  of  defense,  and  making  an  appropriation  to  defray 
expense  of  future  work.  The  organization  of  employment  bureaus 
will  be  perfected  by  the  State  council. — [Letter  from  the  governor  to 
U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  24,  1919.] 

Employment. 

Although  the  failure  of  Congress  to  appropriate  funds  for  the  con- 
tinuation of  the  Federal  employment  service  has  made  it  necessary  to 
close  the  officas  in  West  Virginia,  with  the  exception  of  the  one  in 
Charleston,  it  is  stated  that  the  necessity  for  its  continuation  is  so 
great,  especially  with  regard  to  placing  discharged  soldiers  and  sail- 
ors in  suitable  employment,  that  the  chambers  of  commerce  and  other 
organizations,  including  many  individual  employers,  have  taken  up 
the  matter  of  continuing  the  work  of  these  offices  during  the  interim. — 
[Mail,  Charleston,  W.  Va.,  Mar.  26,  1919.] 

Employment  offices  maintained  in  AVest  Virginia  by  the  Federal 
Government  in  cooperation  with  State  aiid  local  organizations  report 
that  during  the  six  months'  period,  January  1  to  June  30,  1919, 
15,710  persons  were  registered  who  were  seeking  employment;  16,6-10 
requests  for  employees  were  received ;  and  7,892  persons  were  placed 
by  these  offices. — [Compiled  from  statistics  furnished  by  U.  S.  Em- 
ployment Service,  Aug.  8,  1919.] 

Citations  have  been  issued  by  the  United  States  AVar  and  Navy  De- 
partments to  501  firms  in  the  State,  these  employers  having  assured 
the  departments  that  they  will  reemploy  every  returned  service  man 
Avho  formerly  worked  for  them  and  left  to  serve  in  the  Army  or  Navy 
during  the  World  War. — [Memorandum  from  assistant  to  Secretary 
of  War  in  the  replacement  of  service  men  to  civil  life,  to  U.  S.  Coun- 
cil of  National  Defense,  Nov.  20,  1919.] 

Highways. 

A  constitutional  amendment  having  been  approved  by  the  legisla- 
ture permitting  the  issue  of  $50,000,000  highway  bonds,  a  bill  has  been 
enacted  providing  for  the  submission  to  the  voters  of  the  State  for 
adoption  of  a  bond  issue  of  that  amount  for  the  purpose  of  construct- 
ing permanent  highways  within  the  State.  The  Parkersburg  Board 
of  Commerce  is  now  calling  upon  the  commercial  organizations,  ro- 
tary clubs,  Kiwanas  club,  automobile  associations,  and  other  inter- 
ests in  the  State  to  cooperate  in  a  State-wide  campaign  of  education 
to  obtain  favorable  action  by  the  voters.  In  order  to  coordinate  the 
activities  of  these  interests  they  have  been  requested  to  send  dele- 


WEST  VIRGINIA.  349 

gates  to  a  good  roads  convention  with  the  object  in  view  of  adopting 
ri  working  program  for  the  campaign  and  forming  a  representative 
organization  to  execute  it. — [News  letter  of  the  Chamber  of  Com- 
merce of  U.  S.  A.,  Apr.  1,  1919 ;  Acts  of  West  Virginia,  1919,  ch. 
77.] 

Pursuant  to  the  legislation  encouraging  such  construction,  many 
highway  and  bridge  projects  are  stated  to  have  been,  in  June,  al- 
ready under  way. — [Letter  from  the  governor  to  U.  S.  Council  of 
National  Defense,  June  27,  1919.] 

On  October  1,  1919,  73  highway  projects  had  been  approved  in  the 
State,  involving  the  improvement  of  252.96  miles  of  road  at  a  total 
estimated  cost  of  $3,819,149.05,  of  which  the  Federal  Government  is 
requested  to  pay  $1,527,223.98  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of 
the  Federal-aid  road  act  of  July  11,  1916,  as  amended  by  the  act 
of  February  28,  1919. — [Statement  prepared  by  Bureau  of  Public 
Roads,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture.] 
Information  Service  for  Returned  Service  Men. 

The  local  branches  of  the  American  Red  Cross  are  cooperating 
with  other  organizations  in  establishing  contacts  with  service  men 
for  the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  adjustment  of  their  allotments, 
allowance  accounts,  compensation  and  claims,  and  the  reinstatement 
of  lapsed  or  canceled  insurance.  It  is  the  desire  of  the  Bureau  of 
War  Risk  Insurance  that  all  inquiries  of  this  nature  be  cleared 
through  the  home-service  sections  of  the  American  Red  Cross.  Up 
to  April  1, 1919,  the  American  Red  Cross  had  organized  in  West  Vir- 
ginia 207  units  with  a  total  of  738  workers. — [Statement  prepared  by 
American  National  Red  Cross  for  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
November,  1919.] 
land  Settlement. 

A  bill  was  introduced  in  the  State  legislature  providing  for  co- 
operation wdth  the  Federal  Government  in  soldier  settlements,  but 
no  action  was  taken.  The  governor  has  appointed  a  commission  to 
represent  the  State  in  soldier-settlement  matters. — [Memorandum 
from  Reclamation  Service,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  the  Interior  to  U.  S.  Coun- 
cil of  National  Defense,  July  1,  1919.] 
Public  Works. 

Reports  received  in  January,  1919,  cover  47  public  building  and 
construction  projects  which  were  under  way  or  contemplated  in  the 
State,  aggregating  an  estimated  value  of  $9,665,000.  Of  this  num- 
ber 21  were  street  improvements,  estimated  to  cost  $4,300,000;  5 
were  waterworks,  estimated  to  cost  $1,675,000;  and  3  were  water- 
front improvements,  estimated  to  cost  $1,900,000. — [Statistics  com- 
piled b}^  Division  of  Public  Works  and  Construction  Developments, 
U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor,  Apr.  17,  1919.] 


350       UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

School  Gardens. 

School  gardens  are  being  conducted  in  15  cities  and  towns,  the  total 
present  enrollment  in  the  State  h^ing  6,737.  In  Charleston,  during 
the  fiscal  year  ending  June  30,  1919,  there  were  2,000  children  en- 
rolled.^— [Prepared  from  material  furnished  by  U.  S.  School  Garden 
Army  to  IJ.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Nov.  1,  1919.] 
Suffrage  for  Returned  Service  Men. 

Under  act  of  the  legislature,  approved  February  22,  any  legal 
voter  of  the  State  whose  participation  in  the  military  service  of  the 
State,  or  of  the  United  States,  required  him  to  be  absent  from  the 
precinct  in  which  he  is  a  legal  voter  on  the  day  of  holding  any 
primary  or  general  election,  may  vote  by  registered  mail  upon 
compliance  with  the  provisions  of  the  act. — [Acts  of  West  Virginia, 
1919,  ch.  100.] 
Teachers  Returning  from  Service. 

An  act  passed  by  the  legislature  providing  for  the  renewal  of  pro- 
fessional teachers'  certificates,  authorizes  service  with  the  United 
States  Army  or  Navy  in  the  war  with  Germany  to  be-  counted  the 
same  as  teaching  on  any  renewable  certificate  or  on  nonrenewable 
certificates  to  extend  the  date  of  expiration  one  year. — [Acts  of  West 
Virginia,  1919,  ch.  8.] 
Vocational  Reeducation  of  Disabled  "Service  Men. 

In  accordance  with  section  2  of  the  Federal  vocational  rehabili- 
tation act  of  June  27,  1918,  as  amended  July  11,  1919,  arrangements 
had  been  made  up  to  October  25,  1919,  by  the  Federal  board  for 
Vocational  Education  with  five  educational  institutions  in  the  State 
for  the  reeducation  of  service  men  to  overcome  the  handicap  of  dis- 
abilities incurred  in  the  service.  A  total  of  43  such  men  have  been 
sent  to  these  institutions  for  training.  Arrangements  have  also  been 
made  by  this  board  with  seven  industrial  establishments  in  the  State 
whereby  the  latter  have  undertaken  to  train  seven  disabled  men. — 
[Compiled  from  statement  prepared  by  Kehabilitation  Division, 
Federal  Board  for  Vocational  Education.] 

WISCONSIN. 

Americanization. 

In  a  number  of  cities  in  Wisconsin  for  some  years,  part-time  schools 
have  been  conducted  for  the  foreigners  wdio  are  candidates  for 
citizenship. 

There  are  two  classes  in  Beloit,  conducted  by  manufacturing  con- 
cerns in  the  classrooms  of  their  plants,  which  meet  three  times  a  week 
at  4  o'clock. 

At  Marshfield  the  school  for  foreigners  is  under  the  joint  super- 
vision of  the  school  board  and  the  chamber  of  commerce.  The  school 
is  organized  as  a  citizenship  club,  officered  by  its  own  members.    At 


WISCONSIN".  351 

the  conclusion  of  the  study  period  the  club  becomes  a  forum  for  the 
discussion  of  questions  of  a  local  or  national  character.  In  the 
Americanization  work  a  mock  citizenship  court  has  been  established' 
and  the  examination  of  club  members  for  citizenship  is  conducted. — 
[Compiled  from  forthcoming  report  of  director  of  citizenship  to 
Connnissioner  of  Naturalization,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor,  1920.J 

The  Americanization  problem  of  Milwaukee  has  to  deal  with 
50,000  people  who  can  not  speak  the  English  language.  To  meet 
the  situation  a  strenuous  educational  campaign  of  the  foreign-born 
leaders  and  the  press  was  enlisted,  and  a  chair  of  Americanization 
established  at  the  University  of  Wisconsin.  Work  among  the  in- 
dustrial plants,  the  churches,  civic  organizations,  and  other  agencies 
for  reaching  the  foreign-born  men  and  women  was  begun.  Experts 
from  other  cities  came  to  attend  a  conference  for  workers  that  the 
best  methods  might  be  obtained.  Lecturers  were  obtained  to  aid  in 
the  general  educational  work.  Under  the  direction  of  the  Americani- 
zation committee,  a  survey  of  the  foreign  born  by  industrial  plants 
was  made.  The  special  literature  committee  prepared  articles  for  the 
foreign-language  press,  and  this  in  turn  initiated  articles  for  publi- 
cation upon  data  suggested  by  the  committee.  Foreign-born  women 
were  encouraged  to  organize  their  own  clubs,  and  the  foreign-born 
women  were  named  to  supervise  the  extension  of  the  work  into  the 
homes.  In  July  of  last  year  the  committee  organized  a  reception  for 
all  those  men  who  had  become  citizens  during  the  preceding  year. 
This  is  to  be  followed  by  a  similar  event  this  summer  when  the 
pageant,  "  New  citizenship,"  will  be  presented.  Both  the  native- 
born  and  foreign-born  groups  are  preparing  for  this  presentation. — 
[Americanization,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  the  Interior,  May  1,  1919.] 

An  experiment  in  Americanization  is  being  made  at  a  tannery  in 
Milwaukee  where  800  aliens  leave  their  work  for  an  hour  each  day, 
five  days  a  week,  to  go  into  the  plant's  schoolrooms  to  study  at  the 
firm's  expense.  The  work  is  conducted  by  12  instructors  of  the  exten- 
sion department  of  the  public  schools.  The  hour  given  each  immi- 
grant is  divided  up  into  15-minute  periods.  In  these  he  studies  oral 
w^ork,  reading,  Avriting,  and  numbers.  The  oral  work  and  reading 
are  designed  to  give  him  a  basis  for  the  understanding  of  American 
life  and  institutions.  The  course  in  this  plant  is  to  run  10  weeks,  ac- 
cording to  the  supervisor  of  extension  work. .  Those  who  complete 
the  course  will  be  awarded  certificates,  to  be  presented  on  July  3  at  a 
meeting  of  the  national  education  association,  which  will  then  be  in 
convention  here. — [Christian  Science  Monitor,  Boston,  Mass.,  May 
26,  1919.] 

Assistance  for  Service  Men  and  Their  Families. 

A  legal-aid  society  in  Milwaukee  is  furnishing  legal  advice  and 
help  to  needy  soldiers  and  their  families  without  charge.    Medical 


852        UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION." 

and  family  aid  is  being  supplied  by  tlie  American  Red  Cross.  Gen- 
eral assistance  and  information  are  given  by  the  secretary  of  the  com- 
munity reception  committee. — [Letter  from  mayor  of  Milwaukee  to 
U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  24,  1919.] 

The  legal  and  medical  committee  of  the  county  councils  of  defense 
and  the  legal  and  medical  representatives  of  the  community  councils 
are  at  the  service  of  soldiers  and  their  families. — [Letter  from  State 
council  of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  25, 
1919.] 

It  is  provided  in  an  act,  approved  March  25,  that  coimties  shall 
give  temporary  aid  to  honorably  discharged  indigent  soldiers,  sailors, 
and  marines  of  any  war  of  the  United  States  and  their  indigent 
wives,  widows,  or  minor  children  w^ithout  requiring  the  removal  of 
any  such  persons  to  a  poorhourse,  but  this  temporary  aid  shall  not 
continue  longer  than  three  months  at  any  one  time  or  in  any  one  year 
unless  otherwise  officially  determined. — [Laws  of  Wisconsin,  1919, 
ch.  42.] 

The  legislature  has  created  by  an  act,  approved  June  27,  a  service 
recognition  board  consisting  of  the  governor,  the  adjutant  general, 
and  the  chairman  of  the  State  council  of  defense.  The  board  will 
have  charge  and  control  of  the  relief  of  sick,  wounded,  or  disabled 
soldiers,  sailors,  and  marines  during  their  period  of  convalescence. 
In  administering  relief  the  board  is  authorized  to  pay  to  or  spend 
upon  each  service  man  the  sum  of  $30  a  month,  and  $500,000  has  been 
made  available  for  the  purpose. — [Law^s  of  Wisconsin,  1919,  ch.  452.] 
"  Back-to-School  "  Drive. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  board  of  industrial  education  of  Fond  du  Lac  a 
motion  was  adopted  to  provide  opportunities  for  the  boys  who  Avill  be 
thrown  out  of  employment  as  the  result  of  the  return  of  soldiers.  A 
comprehensive  survey  of  the  w^ork  which  should  be  done  in  opening  a 
channel  for  these  boys  to  gain  a  livelihood  was  given.  It  was  stated 
that  with  the  return  of  soldiers  and  sailors  whose  positions  had  been 
promised  them  boys  between  the  ages  of  14  and  17  years,  who  have 
been  engaged  in  substituting  for  the  man  in  service,  would  be  forced 
out  of  employment.  The  various  reasons  why  boys  of  this  age  would 
not  care  to  continue  their  studies  at  the  public  schools  were  pointed 
out,  and  why,  if  a  course  of  machinery  and  drafting  w^as  added  to  the 
schedule,  it  would  be  successful  and  an  incentive  to  the  boys.  As  a 
result  it  was  decided  to  install  a  machinery  shop  practice,  and 
drafting  department.  Academic  work  will  also  be  taken  up  by  the 
boys.— [Commonwealth,  Fond  du  Lac,  Wis.,  Feb.  6,  1919.] 

The  "  Stay-in-school "  campaign  is  arousing  much  interest,  especi- 
ally in  industrial  centers,  and  plans  are  now  under  way  in  many 
counties  to  carry  out  with  vigor  this  educational  campaign.  It  is 
realized  that  the  schools  must  meet  the  needs  of  the  pupils  if  they 


WISCONSIN".  353 

are  to  be  kept  in  school. — [Keport  of  child  conservation  section  of  the 
Field  Division  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Oct.  1,  1918, 
to  July  1,  1919.] 
Bonuses  for  Service  Men. 

A  bonus  bill  providing  approximately  $15,000,000  to  be  obtained 
through  taxation,  which  was  recently  passed  by  the  legislature  with 
a  referendum  provision  attached,  was  ratified  at  a  special  election  on 
September  2.  Under  this  measure  soldiers,  sailors,  marines,  and 
nurses  who  enlisted  in  the  World  War  will  receive  $10  for  each 
month  of  service,  the  minimum  to  be  $50. — [Tribune,  Chicago,  111., 
Sept.  3,  1919.] 
Bonuses  and  Other  Assistance  for  Service  Men  and  Their  Families. 

Several  bills  were  introduced  in  the  legislature  providing  for 
bonuses  or  other  aid  or  relief  to  honorably  discharged  soldiers,  sail- 
ors, -and  marines  and  their  dependents.  Two  of  these  relief  measures 
were  passed  by  the  legislature. 

Senate  bill  23,  which  was  enacted,  provides  for  the  appointment  of 
county  soldiers'  relief  commissions. 

Among  the  others  introduced  was  senate  bill  314  providing  a 
bonus  to  soldiers  ,  sailors,  and  marines  of  $10  for  each  month  they 
were  in  service,  and  authorizing  a  loan  not  to  exceed  $20,000,000  to 
carry  out  this  provision ;  and  senate  bill  280  providing  for  paying  to 
each  honorably  discharged  soldier,  sailor,  or  marine,  for  a  period  of 
three  months,  a  sum  which,  together  with  any  money  received  from 
the  Federal  Government,  will  equal  three  months'  pay  at  the  time  of 
discharge,  and  authorizing  a  bond  issue  not  to  exceed  $15,000,000  to 
meet  this  expense. 

Assembly  bill  443  was  introduced  in  the  legislature  permitting 
cities  to  pay  a  bonus  not  to  exceed  $100  to  city  employees  on  their 
return  from  war  service.  The  bill  was  indefinitely  postponed.-^ [Pre- 
pared from  material  furnished  by  State  council  of  defense  to  U.  S. 
Council  of  National  Defense,  May  16,  1919.] 

Business  Readjustment. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  ncAv  Wisconsin  Retail  Dry  Goods  Association 
reconstruction  problems  in  their  relation  to  a  merchandising  policy 
were  discussed.  The  aim  is  to  get  back  to  a  normal  basis  by  follow- 
ing a  definite  program.  Careful  buying  is  advised  in  order  to  meet 
competitive  prices  and  to  give  the  public  the  benefit  of  a  gradual  re- 
duction in  market  values.  Economy  methods  are  urged  and  also  a 
reduction  of  operating  expenses.  A  St  ate- wide  campaign  of  educa- 
tion is  advocated  in  order  to  enlighten  the  public  as  to  the  protective 
motives  of  the  association. — [Dry  Goods  Economist,  New  York, 
N.  Y.,  Jan.  1,  1919.] 

134286"*— 20 ^23 


354        UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  KECONSTRUCTION. 

Community  Councils, 

The  State  chairman  of  the  Woman's  Committee  has  made  a  num- 
ber of  speeches  throughout  the  State  on  community  councils  and  their 
organization.  The  people  of  the  State  seem  responsive  to  the  idea, 
and  several  counties  have  reorganized  and  made  permanent  their 
work.  An  attempt  is  being  made  by  the  State  division  to  interest 
the  interdepartmental  commission  of  Wisconsin,  which  is  already 
established,  in  the  community  council  work. — [Letter  from  assist- 
ant executive  secretary,  State  council  of  defense  to  U.  S.  Counsil  of 
National  Defense,  Apr.  25,  1919.] 

Community  Houses. 

Senate  bill  121,  approved  June  26,  makes  provision  for  the  estab- 
lishment of  community  houses  in  such  communities  as  desire  them. 
These  houses  are  to  be  used  for  public  gatherings  for  information, 
discussion,  recreation,  amusement;  public  banquets,  suppers,  festi- 
vals ;  athletics,  games ;  rest  rooms ;  rooms  for  community  agricultural 
projects;  and  other  purposes. — [Laws  of  Wisconsin,  1919,  ch.  430.] 

Community    Organization. 

The  State  division  of  the  Woman's  Committee,  United  States  Coun- 
cil of  National  Defense,  has  decided  that  nothing  should  be  done  to- 
ward securing  the  continuation  of  the  committee  independent  to  the 
State  council  of -defense,  but  that  an  effort  should  be  made  to  per- 
petuate the  work  of  the  State  council  and  the  woman's  committee  by 
organizing  community  councils  composed  of  both  men  and  women. 
The  woman's  committee  has  been  active  in  supporting  a  number  of 
measures  before  the  legislature  relating  to  salaries  of  teachers  and 
school  superintendents,  neglected  and  delinquent  children,  hours  of 
labor,  public-health  nurses,  public  comfort  stations,  and  rural  plan- 
ning, some  of  which  have  been  enacted  into  law. — [Prepared  from 
material  furnished  by  State  council  of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of 
National  Defense,  May  16,  1919.] 
Council  of  Defense. 

By  an  act  of  the  legislature,  approved  July  1,  it  was  directed  that 
the  State  council  of  defense  should  be  abolished.    The  date  fixed  for 
the  termination  of  its  activities  was  June  30,  1919. — [Laws  of  Wis- 
consin, 1919,  ch.  478.] 
Education  of  Heturned  Service  Men. 

Two  bills  were  introduced  in  the  legislature  relating  to  the  higher 
education  of  honorably  discharged  soldiers  and  sailors.  Senate  bill 
348  provides  that  they  shall  not  be  required  to  pay  tuition  or  inci- 
dental fee^,  and  grants  them  $30  per  month  while  in  attendance  as 
students  at  any  of  the  several  State  normal  schools,  the  Wisconsin 
Mining  School,  Stout  Institute,  or  the  State  university. 


wiscoNsiisr.  355 

Assembly  bill  396  simply  provides  for  their  exemption  from  pay- 
ment of  fees  for  tuition  and  of  incidental  fees  in  the  State  university. 
Both  measures  were  referred  to  committees,  but  they  were  not 
enacted. 

In  order  to  aid  worthy  and  needy  students,  especially  returning 
soldiers  and  men  of  the  Students'  Army  Training  Corps,  the  regents 
of  the  University  of  Wisconsin  recently  devoted  $5,000  to  addi- 
tional scholarships.  The  secretary  of  the  board  of  regents  on  May  11 
reported  that  scholars  for  this  year  have  been  appointed  and  the 
$5,000  paid.  Plans  are  being  detailed  for  next  year. — [Prepared 
from  material  furnished  by  State  council  of  defense  to  U.  S.  Coun- 
cil of  National  Defense,  May  16,  1919.] 

The  assembly  finance  committee  has  recommended  for  indefinite 
postponement  the  bill  admitting  soldiers,  sailors,  and  marines  of  the 
World  War  to  the  State  university  and  normal  schools  free  of  tui- 
tion.— [Wisconsin  State  Journal,  Madison,  Wis.,  June  13,  1919.] 

The  legislature  enacted  a  bill  providing  that  any  student  of  a  high 
school  of  the  State,  who  during  the  year  at  the  end  of  which  he  would 
have  been  graduated  entered  any  branch  of  the  military  or  naval 
service  of  the  United  States  during  the  war  with  Germany,  shall  be 
granted  a  diploma  of  graduation  from  such  high  school. — [Laws  of 
Wisconsin,  1919,  ch.  427.] 

Employment. 

The  State  early  made  liberal  arrangements  for  the  care  of  its 
labor  and  is  maintaining  employment  bureaus  in  the  larger  cities. 
A  number  of  volunteer  organizations  and  the  State  council  of  defense 
can  be  used  if  an  emergency  arises.  So  far  employment  has  been  given 
to  all  returned  men  who  wished  it.  There  is  a  general  understanding 
among  manufacturers  of  the  State  that  all  men  who  entered  the 
service  will  be  given  their  former  positions  if  they  so  desire,  and 
this  understanding  is  quite  well  observed.  The  men  who  entered  the 
service  from  the  farms  are  all  needed,  and  in  some  places  there  is  a 
shortage  of  farm  labor.  So  far  the  matter  of  employment  has  not 
been  a  serious  question,  but  the  State  will  not  be  unmindful  of  the 
interest  of  the  men  who  entered  the  Army  and  Navy  from  Wiscon- 
-ein. — [Letter  from  the  governor  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
Mar.  21, 1919.] 

No  situation  seems  likely  to  develop  which  can  not  be  readily  cared 
for  by  Federal  and  State  employment  agencies,  and  by  county  and 
city  councils  of  defense,  the  councils  being  still  active  for  this  and 
other  purposes. 

The  great  majority  of  returning  soldiers  are  placed  by  their  for- 
mer employers  either  in  the  positions  held  by  them  when  called  into 
military  service  or  in  others  equally  good  or  better.     There  is  at 


356        UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

present  no  lack  of  employment  nor  unusual  number  of  unemployed 
men. — [Letter  from  the  adjutant  general  to  U.  S.  Council  of 
National  Defense,  Mar.  26,  1919.] 

Upon  receipt  of  information  concerning  the  curtailment  of  the 
activities  of  the  United  States  Employment  Service  the  State  coun- 
cil of  defense  sent  a  bulletin  to  the  various  county  councils  of  de- 
fense, asking  that  wherever  local  conditions  required  they  give  as- 
sistance and  cooperation  in  keeping  alive  the  employment  offices.  The 
farm  labor  situation  is  now  gi-eatly  improved  and  lumber  and  mill 
hands  are  in  great  demand.  Senate  joint  resolution  25  relating  to 
the  appointment  of  a  joint  committee  to  frame  measures  to  provide 
remunerative  employment  for  or  assistance  to  members  of  the  naval 
and  military  forces  honorably  discharged  and  demobilized,  was  re- 
fused adoption  because  employment  matters  were  being  adequately 
handled  by  existing  agencies. 

The  chairman  of  the  State  industrial  commission  on  January  1 
recommended  the  appointment  of  a  voluntary  conference  committee 
made  up  of  an  equal  number  of  employers  and  employees,  to  dis- 
cuss frankly  and  freely  the  industrial  problems  of  reconstruction 
and  to  endeavor  to  settle  some  of  the  difficult  questions  arising  out  of 
the  reorganization  of  industry.  The  industrial  commission  is  doing 
^everything  it  can  to  help  in  the  solution  of  the  question  of  unemploy- 
ment, and  it  is  being  assisted  through  cooperative  committees  made 
up  of  representatives  of  employers'  and  labor  organizations,  all 
working  through  the  public  employment  offices.  It  is  further  assisted 
by  a  State  advisory  board  on  employment  made  up  of  equal  numbers 
representing  both  management  and  labor.  More  recently  the  chair- 
man of  the  industrial  commission  stated  that  the  employment  situa- 
tion is  becoming  better  than  it  was  during  the  winter  months ;  that 
public  employment  bureaus  have  been  a  valuable  factor  in  assisting 
in  finding  suitable  opportunities  for  men  out  of  work ;  and  that  the 
State  legislature  passed  an  emergency  employment  measure  ap- 
propriating $22,000  to  take  care  of  public  employment  bureaus  in 
the  State  from  April  1  to  July  1,  and  until  such  a  time  as  a  permanent 
employment  program  for  Wisconsin  is  outlined. 

The  number  of  employment  offices  in  the  State  has  been  reduced 
to  23.  The  farm  labor  situation  is  improved.  The  legislature  has 
adopted  two  resolutions,  assembly  joint  resolution  23  urging  Congress 
to  discharge  farmers  from  the  military  and  naval  service  at  the 
earliest  possible  moment ;  and  the  other,  assembly  joint  resolution  69 
requesting  the  Secretary  of  War  to  grant  priority  to  the  discharge 
of  men  on  agricultural  grounds. 

Senate  bill  294,  introduced  in  the  legislature,  authorizes  the  secre- 
tary of  state  to  cooperate  with  other  departments  of  the  State  govern- 


WISCONSIN. 


357 


ment  in  fostering,  promoting,  and  developing  the  welfare  of  the 
wage  earners  of  the  State,  by  creating  new  opportunities  for  perma- 
nent and  profitable  employment,  and  provides  for  the  creation  of  a 
colonization  board. 

According  to  a  report  of  the  secretary  of  the  American  War  Vet- 
erans' Association,  there  were,  May  13,  39  local  branches  of  that  or- 
ganization in  the  State.  These  local  branches,  through  cooperation 
with  the  county  councils  of  defense  and  the  United  States  Employ- 
ment Service,  have  been  of  great  aid  in  securing  employment  for  re- 
turning service  men  and  assisting  them  in  other  ways. — [Prepared 
from  material  furnished  by  State  council  of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council 
of  National  Defense,  May  16,  1919.] 

Employment  offices  maintained  in  Wisconsin  by  the  Federal  Gov- 
ernment in  cooperation  with  State  and  local  organizations  report  that 
during  the  six  months'  period,  January  1  to  June  30,  1919,  91,863 
persons  were  registered  who  were  seeking  employment;  98,835  re- 
quests for  employees  were  received;  and  64,371  persons  were  placed 
by  these  offices. — [Compiled  from  statistics  furnished  by  U.  S.  Em- 
ployment Service,  Aug.  8,  1919.] 

Citations  have  been  issued  by  the  United  States  War  and  Navy 
Deparments  to  1,345  firms  in  the  State,  these  employers  having  as- 
sured the  departments  that  they  will  reemploy  every  returned  service 
man  who  formerly  worked  for  them  and  left  to  serve  in  the  Army  or 
Navy  during  the  World  War. — [Memorandum  from  assistant  to 
Secretary  of  War  in  the  replacement  of  service  men  to  civil  life,  to 
U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Nov.  20,  1919.] 

Under  an  act  of  the  legislature  the  sum  of  $22,000  was  appro- 
priated to  the  State  industrial  commission  for  the  purpose  of  con- 
tinuing the  free  employment  offices  throughout  the  State  from  April 
1, 1919,  to  July  1,  1919.— [Laws  of  Wisconsin,  1919,  ch.  144.] 

The  War  Camp  Community  Service,  Young  Men's  Christian  Asso- 
ciation, Knights  of  Columbus,  and  other  organizations,  as  well  as 
volunteer  committees  in  various  wards,  are  helping  returned  soldiers 
in  securing  employment,  supplementing  the  work  of  the  local  office  of 
the  United  States  Employment  Service. — [Letter  from  mayor  of 
Milwaukee  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  24,  1919.] 
Foreign  Languages  in  Schools. 

Several  bills  with  reference  to  the  use  of  foreign  languages  in 
schools  have  been  introduced  in  the  legislature.  Assembly  bill  229 
provides  that  all  instruction  shall  be  in  the  English  language,  and 
that  the  study  of  any  foreign  language  in  any  of  the  schools  in  the 
State  below  the  eighth  grade,  inclusive,  be  prohibited. 

Senate  bill  26  prohibits  the  teaching  of  any  foreign  language  in 
the  district  schools  or  in  any  grade  school  below  the  high  school  at 
public  expense. 


858        UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

Senate  bill  117  provides  that  English  be  made  the  medium  of  in- 
struction in  all  priA^ate  and  parochial  schools  in  the  State.  These 
three  bills  were  withdrawn  on  request  of  their  autliors. 

Senate  bill  243  requires  that  English  be  the  medium  of  instruction 
in  public,  private,  and  parochial  schools. 

Senate  bill  234  requires  that  instruction  in  every  district  and  pub- 
lic graded  school  shall  be  in  the  English  language,  and  forbids  the 
teaching  of  any  foreign  language  in  the  district  schools  or  in  any 
grade  below,  the  high  school. 

Assembly  bill  505  provides  that  all  instruction  shall  be  in  the  Eng- 
lish language  and  prohibits  the  teaching  of  any  foreign  language 
in  any  public,  private,  or  parochial  school.  The  last  three  bills 
were  referred  to  legislative  committees. — [Prepared  from  material 
furnished  by  State  council  of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National 
Defense,  May  16,  1919.] 
Highways. 

House  joint  resolution  32  has  been  passed  by  the  senate  looking  to 
the  amendment  of  the  State  constitution  so  that  the  State  may  issue 
bonds  up  to  $50,000,000  for  the  construction  or  improvement  of  high- 
ways.— [Prepared  from  material  furnished  by  State  council  of  de- 
fense to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  May  16,  1919.] 

The  State  highway  commission  has  been  directed  by  act  of  the 
legislature  to  lengthen  the  State  trunk  highway  system  so  that  its 
total  length  will  be  7,500  miles. 

Under  the  provision  of  a  bill,  enacted  July  23,  there  will  be  appro- 
priated annually  for  three  years  the  sum  of  $1,700,000  for  the  con- 
struction of  highways  to  meet  allotments  made  by  the  Federal  Gov- 
ernment.— [Laws  of  Wisconsin,  1919.  chs.  313,  632.] 

Six  counties  in  the  State  have  voted  issues  aggregating  $12,350,000 
for  highway  construction. — [Public  Ledger,  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  Sept. 
30,  1919.] 

On  October  1, 1919. 100  highway  projects  had  been  approved  in  the 
State,  involving  the  improvement  of  457.62  miles  of  road  at  a  total 
estimated  cost  of  $3,941,877.49,  of  which  the  Federal  Government  is 
requested  to  pay  $1,312,981.27  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of 
the  Federal-aid  road  act  of  July  11,  1916,  as  amended  by  the  act  of 
February  28,  1919. — [Statement  prepared  by  Bureau  of  Public 
Koads,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture.] 

Housing  Accommodations. 

Senate  bill  471,  enacted  May  8,  amends  the  statutes  of  the  State 
by  adding  to  the  duties  of  planning  commissions  by  having  them 
make  a  study  of  the  possibilities  and  needs  in  their  respective 
cities  relative  to  congestion,  housing  conditions,  and  planning,  and 
to  advise  the  city  councils  in  the  making  of  plans  for  the  development 


WISCONSIN-.  359 

of  better  housing  and  planning.  The  bill  also  permits  any  city  act- 
ing through  its  planning  commission  or  otherwise  to  acquire  any 
lands  adjoining  or  near  to  such  city  for  the  purpose  of  relieving 
crowded  sections  by  providing  housing  facilities  suitable  to  the  needs 
of  such  city,  by  providing  garden  suburbs  at  reasonable  cost  to  the 
residents  of  such  city,  and  by  establishing  city-owned  vacation 
camps  for  school  children  and  minors  up  to  20  years  of  age. — 
[Prepared  from  material  furnished  by  State  council  of  defense  to 
U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  May  16,  1919.] 

A  housing  corporation  has  been  formed  with  a  capital  stock  of 
$300,000  for  the  erection  of  houses  in  Janesville  at  a  cost  of  $3,000 
or  less.  This  town  has  increased  in  population  within  the  last  five 
years  from  14,000  to  50,000,  and  housing  conditions  are  distressing. — 
[Housing  Betterment,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  June,  1919.] 

In  Kenosha  the  first  great  after-the-war  enterprise  has  been  a  sur- 
vey of  housing  conditions  made  by  the  teachers  of  the  city  schools  in 
cooperation  with  the  chamber  of  commerce  and  the  board  of  health 
of  that  city. 

The  chairman  of  the  Milwaukee  housing  commission  advocates  the 
construction  of  homes  by  "  copartnership  housing  societies  as  the  sim- 
plest and  surest  means  of  reconciling  the  interest  of  the  landlord  and 
the  tenant." — [Housing  Betterment,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  February, 
1919.] 
Information  Service  for  Returned  Service  Men. 

The  local  branches  of  the  American  Red  Cross  are  cooperating 
with  other  organizations  in  establishing  contacts  with  service  men 
for  the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  adjustment  of  their  allotments, 
allowance  accounts,  compensation  and  claims,  and  the  reinstatement 
of  lapsed  or  canceled  insurance.  It  is  the  desire  of  the  Bureau  of 
War  Risk  Insurance  that  all  inquiries  of  this  nature  be  cleared 
through  the  home-service  sections  of  the  American  Red  Cross.  Up 
to  April  1, 1919,  the  American  Red  Cross  had  organized  in  Wisconsin 
372  units  with  a  total  of  435  workers. — [Statement  prepared  by 
American  National  Red  Cross  for  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
November,  1919.] 

Labor  Participation  in  Business  Management. 

Senate  bill  432  has  been  introduced  and  recommended  for  passage 
which  would  make  it  compulsory  for  the  directors  of  each  industrial 
corporation  operating  an  industrial  factory  or  plant  employing  at 
least  150  employees,  to  include  in  its  membership  one  nonstockholding 
labor  representative,  to  be  elected  annually,  by  the  employees  of  the 
establishment.  A  substitute  amendment  for  this  bill  was  offered  by 
the  committee  on  reconstruction. — [Prepared   from  material   fur- 


860        UNITED  faTATES  READJUSTMENT  AXD  RECONSTBUOTION. 

nished  by  State  council  of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  De- 
fense, May  16,  1919.] 

Land  Settlement. 

A  colonization  project  for  the  settlement  of  returning  soldiers  on 
Wisconsin  lands  is  under  way,  the  purposes  and  aims  of  which  are 
said  to  be  in  accord  with  the  recommendations  of  the  Secretary  of  the 
Interior. — [Letter  from  mayor  of  Milwaukee  to  U.  S.  Council  of  Na- 
tional Defense,  Mar.  24,  1919.] 

Assembly  joint  resolution  36  providing  for  the  appointment  of  a 
committee  to  work  with  the  Federal  Government  in  obtaining  cheaply 
explosives  for  use  in  clearing  northern  Wisconsin  land,  has  been 
adopted  by  the  legislature.  The  resolution  cites  that  the  State  and 
Nation  are  interested  in  obtaining  farm  land  for  returning  soldiers, 
sailors,  and  marines. — [Prepared  from  material  furnished  by  State 
council  of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  May  16, 
1919.] 

Senate  bill  184.  passed  by  the  legislature,  provides  for  cooperation 
between  the  State  and  Federal  Governments  in  the  settlement  of 
soldiers,  sailors,  and  marines  upon  State  lands  and  for  the  creation 
of  a  soldier-settlement  board.  The  act  will  be  administered  by  a 
board  of  three  members,  one  of  whom  will  be  an  honorably  dis- 
charged soldier,  sailor,  or  marine  of  the  World  War.  Such  sums  as 
are  necessary  to  carry  out  the  provisions  of  the  act  are  appropri- 
ated.— [Laws  of  Wisconsin,  1919,  ch.  596.] 

A  land-settlement  committee,  appointed  by  the  governor,  issued  a 
report  January  27  in  which  it  reconmiended  the  development  of  a 
sound  State  land  policy  and  the  establishment  of  a  land- develop- 
ment board.  Its  recoiimiendations  are  embodied  in  assembly  bill  614, 
introduced  in  the  legislature,  which  provides  for  the  appointment  of 
such  a  board  and  defines  its  powers  and  duties  with  regard  to  in- 
vestigations and  the  acquisition  and  allotment  of  land  to  honorably 
discharged  soldiers  and  sailors. — [Prepared  from  material  furnished 
by  State  council  of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
May  16,  1919.] 

Marketing  Farm  Products. 

Two  bills  (S.  248;  A.  370)  and  a  number  of  substitute  amend- 
ments relating  to  the  creation  of  a  division  of  markets  in  the 
department  of  agriculture  were  introduced  in  the  senate  and  in  the 
assembly,  respectively,  but  were  laid  over.  The  purposes  of  the 
division  were  to  be:  To  promote  economical  and  efficient  distribu- 
tion of  farm  products;  locate  necessary  farm  products;  cooperate 
with  and  aid  producers,  distributors,  and  consumers  in  maintaining 
systems  of  marketing,  grading,  standardizing,  and  storing  farm 
products;  aid  in  determining  shipping  routes;  and  collect  and  dis- 


wiscoxsr:^".  361 

semmate  information  relative  to  marketing.  The  bill  would  give  the 
director  of  the  division  power  to  require  reports  from  persons  en- 
gaged in  marketing  farm  products  relative  to  the  demand  for  the 
supply,  consumption,  quantity,  cost,  value,  price,  condition,  and 
period  of  holding  of  farm  products  held  in  commercial  or  other 
storage;  inspect  farm  products  upon  which  reports  have  been  re- 
quested; establish  standards  for  the  grading,  classification,  etc.,  of 
farm  products;  and  take  measures  of  relief  in  cases  of  emergency 
creating  a  scarcity  of  farm  products. — [Prepared  from  material  fur- 
nished by  State  council  of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  De- 
fense, May  16,  1919.] 
Payments  to  War  Work  Organizations. 

Assembly  bill  3,  passed  by  the  legislature,  legalizes  and  validates 
any  payments  of  money  by  any  county,  town,  village,  city,  or  school 
district  to  or  for  any  organization  participating  in  the  "  United-war- 
work"  campaign. — [Prepared  from  material  furnished  by  State 
council  of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  May  16, 
1919.] 
Preference  to  EetiLrned  Service  Men  in  Public  Employment. 

Under  the  acts  of  the  legislature  veterans  of  wars  of  the  United 
States  will  be  given  preference  in  the  civil  service.  Preference  is 
defined  to  mean  that  wherever  a  question  arises  as  to  certification  of 
two  persons  of  equal  qualification,  as  determined  by  civil-service 
examination,  and  one  of  the  persons  a  war  veteran,  he  shall  be 
certified. — [Laws  of  Wisconsin,  1919,  chs.  18,  365.] 
Public  Works. 

Reports  received  in  January,  1919,  cover  90  public  building  and 
construction  projects  wliich  were  under  Avay  or  contemplated  in  the 
State,  aggregating  an  estimated  value  of  $28,745,000.  Of  this  number 
19  were  street  improvements,  estimated  to  cost  $10,835,000;  9  were 
schools  estimated  to  cost  $2,585,000;  and  6  were  waterworks,  estimated 
to  cost  $1,115,000. — [Statistics  compiled  by  Division  of  Public  Works 
and  Construction  Developments,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor,  Apr.  17, 1919.] 
Reconstruction  Program. 

The  Wisconsin  State  Federation  of  Labor  has  issued  a  program  of 
construction,  dealing  mainly  with  proposed  labor  legislation.  The 
program  includes,  among  others,  recommendations  concerning  the 
rehabilitation  of  military  and  industrial  soldiers,  emergency  meas- 
ures to  meet  crises  of  unemployment,  nationalization  of  the  railroads 
and  the  coal  industry,  public  development  of  water  power,  mimicipal 
milk  distribution,  a  marketing  commission  to  investigate  cost  of  pro- 
duction and  encourage  the  elimination  of  Avaste  in  distribution,  land- 
settlement  opportunities,  housing  and  community  planning,  democ- 
ratizing the  machinery  of  government,  training  for  Americanization, 


362        UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  PvECONSTRUCTION. 

vocational  education,  etc.  A  number  of  labor  bills  have  been  intro- 
duced in  the  legislature  in  support  of  this  program,  two  of  which 
were  enacted  into  law. — [Pamphlet,  The  Next  Steps,  issued  by  the 
Wisconsin  State  Federation  of  Labor,  1919.] 

The  senate  committee  on  reconstruction  and  readjustment  inaugu- 
rated a  series  of  public  hearings,  at  which  all  persons  who  had  sugges- 
tions or  ideas  on  the  subject  of  reconstruction  were  heard.  The  legis- 
lative program  of  the  committee,  prepared  after  these  hearings,  took 
form  in  a  number  of  bills  relating,  respectively,  to  the  marketing  of 
farm  products,  collective  bargaining  by  associations  of  producers,  at- 
tendance of  continuation  schools,  city  housing  and  planning,  coopera- 
tive associations,  board  of  education  membership,  and  social  insur- 
ance. 

Beloit  has  organized  a  chamber-  of  commerce,  which  is  prepared  to 
handle  the  problems  of  reconstruction.  Its  aim  is  to  promote  trans- 
portation; industrial,  agricultural,  civic,  and  commercial  develop- 
ments of  the  community.  Beloit  College  is  working  in  cooperation 
with  the  business  men  of  the  city,  making  a  good  combination  for 
carrying  on  effective  work. — [Prepared  from  material  furnished  by 
State  council  of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  May  16, 
1919.] 
Registration  of  Discharge  Papers. 

The  discharges  of  soldiers,  sailors,  marines,  and  nurses  who  served 
in  the  war  against  Germany  will  be  recorded  free  of  charge  by 
county  registers  of  deeds. — [Laws  of  Wisconsin,  1919,  ch.  465.] 
Rehabilitation  of  Disabled  Service  Men. 

The  Industrial  Commission  of  Wisconsin  maintains  in  connection 
with  the  public  employment  bureau  at  Milwaukee  a  handicapped 
department,  whicn  is  successfully  conducted  in  assisting  military  and 
industrial  cripples  to  secure  suitable  work.  Plans  are  being  made 
to  maintain  a  handicapped  department  in  the  State  clearance  oiRce 
of  the  employment  system  to  carry  on  this  work  in  all  parts  of  the 
State  between  the  industrial  commission  and  the  vocational  schools, 
to  the  end  that  handicapped  men  and  women  may  be  furnished 
vocational  guidance  and  instruction  where  necessary  to  better  equip 
them  for  industrial  opportunities.  In  the  case  of  industrial  cripples, 
vocational  guidance  will  begin  before  the  handicapped  man  leaves 
the  hospital.  The  vocational  schools  of  the  State  can  be  easily 
adapted  to  the  problem  of  rehabilitation  and  education. — [Prepared 
from  material  furnished  by  State  council  of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council 
of  National  Defense,  May  16,  1919.] 
Rural  Planning. 

The  legislature  has  passed  the  bill  providing  for  the  creation  in 
the  State  department  of  agriculture  of  a  division  of  rural  planning. 


wiscoxsiN.  863 

This  division  will  be  in  charge  of  the  State  commissioner  of 
agriculture.  The  term  rural  planning  as  defined  in  the  measure 
means  planning  for  the  health,  general  welfare,  and  amenity  of  the 
settler;  planning  for  the  creation  and  development  of  the  most 
logical  community  centers  where  country  people  can  come  together 
for  social  and  business  relations;  planning  for  the  setting  aside  of 
country  parks,  recreation  fields,  county  fair  grounds,  communitj^ 
woodlands,  places  of  local  historic  interest,  and  for  the  reservation 
of  land  for  public  uses  along  river  fronts  and  lake  shores,  fine  out- 
looks from  hilltops,  and  for  the  preservation  of  the  native  landscape. 
Under  the  terms  of  the  bill  it  is  made  the  duty  of  the  commissioner  of 
agriculture  to  cooperate  with  the  county  rural  planning  committee 
and  to  stimulate  interest  and  information  along  the  lines  of  rural 
planning. — [Laws  of  Wisconsin,  1919,  ch.  693.] 
School  Gardens. 

School  gardens  are  being  conducted  in  54  cities  and  towns,  the  total 
present  enrollment  in  the  State  being  40,563.  In  Milwaukee  during 
the  fiscal  year  ending  June  30,  1919,  there  were  8,000  children 
enrolled. — [Prepared  from  material  furnished  by  U.  S.  School 
Garden  Army  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Nov.  1,  1919.] 
Vocational  Eeeducation  of  Disabled  Service  Men. 

In  accordance  with  section  2  of  the  Federal  vocational  rehabili- 
tation act  of  June  27,  1918,  as  amended  July  11,  1919,  arrangements 
had  been  made  up  to  October  25,  1919,  by  the  Federal  Board  for 
Vocational  Education  with  18  educational  institutions  in  the  State 
foi*  the  reeducation  of  service  men  to  overcome  the  handicap  of  dis- 
abilities incurred  in  the  service.  A  total  of  212  such  men  have  been 
sent  to  these  institutions  for  training.  Arrangements  have  also 
been  made  by  this  board  with  two  industrial  establishments  in  the 
State  whereby  the  latter  have  undertaken  to  train  two  disabled 
men. — [Compiled  from  statement  prepared  by  Rehabilitation  Divi- 
sion, Federal  Board  for  Vocational  Education.] 
Welfare  of  Returned  Service  Men. 

Senate  bill  301,  enacted  by  the  legislature  March  4,  provides  for 
the  appointment  of  a  committee  to  be  located  in  New  York  City  to 
welcome  Wisconsin  soldiers  as  they  return  from  over-sea  service,  and 
appropriating  $5,000  for  the  purpose.  Headquarters  have  been 
established  by  the  committee  at  37  West  25th  Street,  New  York  City, 
and  the  committee  is  reported  to  be  doing  a  wonderful  work  for  Wis- 
consin men. — [Prepared  from  material  furnished  by  State  council  of 
defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  May  16,  1919.] 
Woman's  Committee. 

Prior  to  the  conference  at  Washington  on  February  12  the  State 
division  of  the  Wojnan's  Committee,  United  States  Council  of  Na- 
tional Defense,  held  a  State-wide  conference  to  sound  the  feeling  of 


364        UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

the  State  toward  the  continuance  of  the  State  division.  Of  the  71 
counties  in  the  State,  64  were  represented  and  voted  to  continue  the 
work.  The  State  division  has  organized  82,000  women  for  work  and 
has  coordinated  every  woman's  organization  in  the  State  into  an 
advisory  board.— [Statement  by  chairman,  State  division  of  the 
Woman's  Committee,  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  at  a  con- 
ference, Washington,  D.  C,  Feb.  12,  1919.] 

WYOMING. 

"  Back-to-School "  Drive. 

Literature  and  posters  on  the  "  Back-to-school "  drive  were  dis- 
tributed to  the  counties.  The  cooperation  of  the  child  welfare 
workers  was  offered  the  department  of  public  instruction. — [Re- 
port of  child  conservation  section  of  the  Field  Division  to  U.  S.  Coun- 
cil of  National  Defense,  Oct.  1,  1918,  to  July  1,  1919.] 

Council  of  Defense. 

Although  the  State  council  of  defense  has  been  abolished,  the 
county  and  community  councils  are  still  keeping  up  their  organiza- 
tions and  have  been  cooperating  with  the  labor  bureau  in  finding  em- 
ployment for  soldiers,  sailors,  and  marines. — [Telegram  from  State 
council  of  defense  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Mar.  18, 
1919.] 

Employment. 

Employment  offices  maintained  in  Wyoming  by  the  Federal  Gov- 
ernment in  cooperation  with  State  and  local  organizations  report  that 
during  the  six  months'  period,  January  1  to  June  30,  1919,  7,845  per- 
sons were  registered  who  were  seeking  employment;  10,038  requests 
for  employees  were  received ;  and  6,317  persons  were  placed  by  these 
offices. — [Compiled  from  statistics  furnished  by  U.  S.  Employment 
Service,  Aug.  8,  1919.] 

Citations  have  been  issued  by  the  United  States  War  and  Navy 
Departments  to  226  firms  in  the  State,  these  employers  having  assured 
the  departments  that  they  will  reemploy  every  returned  service  man 
who  formerly  worked  for  them  and  left  to  serve  in  the  Army  or 
Navy  during  the  World  War. — [Memorandum  from  assistant  to 
Secretary  of  War  in  the  replacement  of  service  men  to  civil  life,  to 
U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Nov.  20,  1919.] 

Highways. 

A  special  State  election  was  held  on  April  22  for  the  purpose  of 
voting  on  a  bond  issue  of  $2,800,000  for  highway  purposes.  This 
bond  issue  was  indorsed  by  a  large  majority,  and  work  on  highway 
construction  and  improvements  will  be  immediately  begun.  There 
will  be  $6,500,000  available  for  road  work  during  the  next  two 


WYOMING.  365 

years. — [Bulletin  No.  47,  Highways  Transpoit  Committee,  U.  S. 
Council  of  National  Defense;  letter  from  governor's  secretary  to 
U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  May  14,1919.] 

On  October  1, 1919,  32  highway  projects  had  been  approved  in  the 
State,  involving  the  improvement  of  308.90  miles  of  road  at  a  total 
estimated  cost  of  $1,621,133.98,  of  which  the  Federal  Government 
is  requested  to  pay  $810,566.95  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of 
the  Federal-aid  road  act  of  July  11,  1916,  as  amended  by  the  act 
of  February  28,  1919. — [Statement  prepared  by  Bureau  of  Public 
Roads,  U.  S.  Dept.  of  Agriculture.] 

An  act,  approved  February  22,  establishes  a  State  highway  depart- 
ment, creates  a  State  highway  fund  and  makes  an  appropriation 
therefor,  assents  to  the  Federal  road  act  and  all  other  acts  granting 
Federal  aid  for  public  highways,  and  authorizes  the  State  highway 
department  to  cooperate  with  the  Federal  Government  in  the  con- 
struction of  roads. — [Laws  of  Wyoming,  1919,  ch.  132,  H.  72.] 
Information  Service  for  Eetnrned  Service  Men. 

The  local  branches  of  the  American  Red  Cross  are  cooperating 
with  other  organizations  in  establishing  contacts  with  service  men 
for  the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  adjustment  of  their  allotments, 
allowance  accounts,  compensation  and  claims,  and  the  reinstatement 
of  lapsed  or  canceled  insurance.  It  is  the  desire  of  the  Bureau  of 
War  Risk  Insurance  that  all  inquiries  of  this  nature  be  cleared 
through  the  home-service  sections  of  the  American  Red  Cross.  Up 
to  April  1, 1919,  the  American  Red  Cross  had  organized  in  Wyoming 
62  units  with  a  total  of  186  workers. — [Statement  prepared  by 
American  National  Red  Cross  for  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense, 
November,  1919.] 
Land  Settlement. 

The  State  legislature  enacted  a  bill  (Senate  file  70,  ch.  143),  ap- 
proved February  28,  providing  for  cooperation  with  the  Federal 
Government  in  soldier  settlements,  appropriating  $5,000,  and  author- 
izing the  land-settlement  board  to  loan  not  to  exceed  $200,000  from 
the  State  school  funds  to  bona  fide  settlers  for  essential  farm  im- 
provements.— [Memorandum  from  Reclamation  Service,  U.  S.  Dept. 
of  the  Interior  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  July  1,  1919.] 
Public  Works. 

Reports  received  in  January,  1919,  cover  nine  public  building  and 
construction  projects  which  were  under  way  or  contemplated  in  the 
State,  aggregating  an  estimated  value  of  $2,030,000.  Of  this  number 
six  were  street  improvements,  estimated  to  cost  $1,700,000. — [Statis- 
tics compiled  by  Division  of  Public  Works  and  Construction  De- 
velopments, U.  S.  Dept.  of  Labor,  Apr.  17, 1919.] 


366        UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

Reconstruction  Board. 

An  act,  approved  February  22,  establishes  a  reconstruction  board 
composed  of  the  governor,  State  engineer,  and  State  librarian,  the 
duties  of  which  will  be  to  investigate  the  conditions  of  agriculture, 
industry,  trade,  and  transportation;  and  to  take  cognizance  of  the 
political,  social,  and  industrial  conditions  of  the  State,  especially  as 
affected  by  the  war.  The  board  will  cooperate  with  the  authorities 
and  agencies  of  the  United  States,  and  of  the  other  States,  and  any 
unofficial  agencies  and  organizations,  in  dealing  with  such  condi- 
tions.—[Laws  of  Wyoming,  1919,  ch.  77,  H.  188.] 
School  Gardens. 

School  gardens  are  being  conducted  in  Cheyenne,  where,  during 
the  fiscal  year  ending  June  30,  1919,  there  were  210  children  en- 
rolled.— [Prepared  from  material  furnished  by  U.  S.  School  Garden 
Army  to  U.  S.  Council  of  National  Defense,  Nov.  1,  1919.] 
Vocational  Reeducation  of  Disabled  Service  Men. 

In  accordance  with  section  2  of  the  Federal  vocational  rehabili- 
tation act  of  June  27,  1918,  as  amended  July  11,  1919,  arrangements 
had  been  made  up  to  October  25,  1919,  by  the  Federal  Board  for 
Vocational  Education  with  an  educational  institution  in  the  State 
for  the  reeducation  of  service  men  to  overcome  the  handicap  of  dis- 
abilities incurred  in  the  service.  Five  such  men  have  been  sent  to 
this  institution  for  training. — [Compiled  from  statement  prepared 
by  Rehabilitation  Division,  Federal  Board  for  Vocational  Edu- 
cation.] 


INDEX. 


[Index  to  States  given  in  table  of  contents  page  8.] 

Aliens.     (See  Aniericauization.)  Page. 

Aliens  in  public  service 181 

Alien    teachers 182 

Allotments,  soldiers',  adjustment  of.     (See  Information  service.) 
Allowance  accounts,  soldiers'.     (See  Information  service.) 

Americanization.- 13,  20,  21,  25,  38,  40,  47-50,  54-56. 

67,  72,  77,  80,  89,  97,  101,  105,  111,  113,  116,  117,  121,  127,  131,  133, 
141,  154-156,  169,  170,  175,  176,  181,  182, 189, 190, 193-105,  206,  210- 

213,  251,  253,  263,  278-281,  296-298,  308, 313,  314,  321,  335,  350,  351 
Assistance  for  service  men  and  their  families 8, 

21,  40,  50,  72,  78,  89,  97,  101,  106,  117,  121,  130-132.  166, 
170,  177,  182,  186,  190,  195,  206,  207,  213,  244,  253,  254,  263, 
267,  268,  281,  282,  296,  298,  308,  314,  326,  335,  336,  351,  352 

Back-to-school  drive 7, 14,  41,  51,  57,  60,  72, 

78,  89,  98,  101,  122,  132,  143,  156,  166,  170,  177,  182,  187,  195,  207, 

214,  244,  254, 264,  268,  304,  308,  315,  32i2,  326,  336,  347,  852,  353,  364 

Bar  examinations  for  service  men 143 

Bonuses  to  service  men___  33,  78,  98, 132, 156, 182, 190, 214,  247,  298,  315,  336,  353 

Boys'  working  reserve 41.  143 

Building  activities  (see  also  Housing) 60, 

79,  107, 143, 170,  214,  215,  254,  257-259,  261,  268,  282,  303, 
306,  308,  309,  312,  320,  322,  325,  333,  334,  343,  361,  366 

Burial  of  service  men 50,  72,  131,  142,  177,  195,  213,  253 

Business    readjustment 89,  90, 157,  215,  309,  322,  353 

Buy-now    campaign 107, 196,  282 

Centralization  of  power  in  executive 72 

(Certification  of  public  records  for  war  risk  insurance 26 

Citations  of  War  and  Navy  Departments 9, 

12,  15,  18,  29,  42,  51,  57,  62,  65,  68,  74,  82,  91,  99,  103,  109,  113, 118, 
123,  135,  147,  158,  167,  171, 179, 183, 187, 191, 198, 199,  207, 220,  245, 
249.  256,  265,  270,  271,  304,  310,  317,  323,  327,  331,  338,  348,  357,  364 
Citizenship  campaigns.     (See  Americanization.) 

(Jivilian   war  workers,  employment  of 27 

Claims.     (See  Information  service.) 

Clearing  house  for  social  needs 282,283 

Coal  at  reduced  prices 117 

Committee  on  pubUc  safety 118,  132,  283,  326 

Committee  on  public  welfare 283,335,336 

Committee,  readjustment.     (See  Readjustment  commission.) 

(Jomumnity    houses 90, 145,  182,  264,  354 

Community   councils. 7, 

17,  24,  25.  29,  41,  67,  70,  73,  79,  80,  90,  101,  107,  108,  122,  143,  144, 
151, 154,  157,  167,  169,  215,  216,  227,  254,  255, 264, 296,  309,  315,  354 

367 


368       UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  RECONSTRUCTION. 

Community  organization.     (See  Community  councils.)  Page. 

Compensation.     (See  Information  service.) 

Compensation  of  State  emploj^ees 216,217 

Compulsory  education.      (See  Americanization;   Foreign  speaking  resi- 
dents. ) 

Cooperative    distribution . 25 

Cotton  acreage  restriction 112 

Councils  of  defense,  county  and  local 17,  21,  23,  25,  41, 96, 108, 157, 166, 178 

Councils  of  defense,  State  and  territorial 7, 8, 

11, 13, 14,  17, 18, 19,  22,  24,  25,  40,  41,  47,  50,  55,  56,  57,  61,  65,  68, 
78,  77,  80,  90,  98, 102,  107.  108, 112,  118, 122,  132, 157,  166,  167, 
170, 177, 182,  187, 194-197,  207,  217,  227,  244.  248,  255,  264,  265, 
268,  283,  298,  300,  304,  309,  315,  316,  330,  336,  347,  348,  354,  364 

Demobilization  committees.     (See  also  Employment) 265 

Demobilization  of  service  men.     (See  also  Employment) 80,217 

Discharge  papers,  registration  of.     (See  Registration.) 
Education   of  foreign-speaking   residents.     (See   Americanization;    For- 
eign-speaking residents.) 

Education  of  returned  service  men 80,  132, 

145,  157,  166,  217,  255,  269,  284,  304,  316,  326,  327,  337,  354,  355 

Employment 8, 11, 14, 17, 18,  22-31,  33,  36,  38, 

42,  43,  47,  51,  57,  61-63,  65,  68,  73,  81-83,  90-92,  98, 102, 104,  108, 
113,118,122,  124,133-135,141,146,  148,158-160,166,167,  171, 
172,177,  178,182,183,187,  190,191,197-200,207,217-224,  244, 
245,  248,  255-257,  265,  269-271,  284,  288,  296.  298-301,  304,  309- 
311,316-318,  322-324,327,330,  331,337-339,348,  355-357,364 
Employment,  preferential  for  returned  service  men.  (See  also  Prefer- 
ence to  service  men  in  public  employment) 29 

English  language  classes.     (See  Americanization.) 

English  language  at  public  meetings 183 

English  language  in  schools.     (See  also  Foreign  languages  in  schools) 71,74, 

83,  99, 103, 119, 148, 155, 160, 178,  249,  252,  265,  271,  288,  305 

Farms  and  industrial  councils 265,  266 

Farms  for  soldiers.     (See  Land  settlement.) 

Food  control 31,  83, 135,  224, 266,  297 

Food  destruction 99, 136 

Food,  marketing  of.     (See  also  Marketing  of  farm  products) 93 

Food  price  regulation 297 

Food  profiteering.     (See  Profiteering.) 

Food   production 148, 205 

Food  situation 225,  241 

Foreign-language  newspapers ^ . 155 

Foreign-speaking  residents,  compulsory  education  of 18, 88, 190 

Foreign  languages  in  schools.     (See  also  English  language  in  schools) 92, 

184, 187, 191,  271,  318,  327,  339,  357,  358 

Foreign  trade 31,  32, 173,  339 

German  language  in  schools.     (See  Foreign  languages  in  schools.) 

High  cost  of  living.     (See  also  Food  control ;  Profiteering ;  etc.) 266, 288,  318 

Highways 9,  12,  15,  19,  32,  43, 

52,  58,  65,  69,  71,  74,  83,  92,  99,  103,  109,  114,  119,  124,  136,  146, 
148,  149,  152,  160,  167,  173,  174,  179,  184,  188,  191,  200,  202,  208, 
225,  245,  249,  257,  266,  271,  272,  288-290,  299,  301,  302,  305,  311. 
818,  319,  324,  327,  328,  331,  332,  340,  341,  348,  349,  358,  364,  365 


INDEX.  369 

Page. 

Home  building  (see  also  Housing  accommodations) 44,  149,  152,  341 

Home  bureaus 225,  226 

Home  gardens  (see  also  School  gardens) 58,  290,  291 

Homes  for  service  men 136, 142,  273 

Housing  accommodations  (see  also  Buildings) 9,  38,  63,  66,  93,  103,  110,  124, 

136,  149,  160,  174,  200,  226-230,  268,  259,  291, 319,  332,  341,  358,  359 

Industrial  surveys  and  development  plans 14,  118 

Information  services  for.  returned  service  men    (see  also  Employment, 

etc,) 9,  12,  15,  19,  33,  44,  52,  58,  63,  66,  69,  75,  84,  93, 

100,  104,  110,  115,  120,  124,  125,  137,  149,  158,  161,  167,  168,  174, 
179,  184,  188,  192,  200,  201,  208,  230,  245,  246,  249,  259,  260,  266, 
273,  291,  299,  302,  305,  311,  319,  324,  328,  332,  341,  352,  359,  365 

Insane  service  men,  care  of  (see  also  Assistance) 122 

Insurance,  lapsed,  reinstatement  of.     (See  Information  services.) 

Labor  participation  in  business  management 137,  359,  360 

Land  grants.     (See  Land  settlement.) 

Land  reclamation   (see  also  Land  settlement) 44, 

75,  104,  137,  188,  273,  274,  302,  341,  342 

Land  setllcment 10,  16,  19,  28,  31,  34,  44,  45, 

52,  59,  66,  69,^  71,  75,  84,  93,  100,  104,  110,  115,  120,  125,  137, 
150.  161,  162,  168,  174,  180,  182,  184,  188.  192,  201,  202,  208,  209, 
230,  231,  246,  249,  259,  266,  267,  274,  275,  292,  302,  303,  305,  306, 
311.  312,  319,  324,  325,  328,  329,  332,  333,  342,  343,  349,  360,  365 
Legal  aid  to  discharged  service  men   (see  also  Assistance;  Information 

services) 8,  22,  33,  89, 106,  113,  121,  142,  244,  265 

License  privileges,  special,  to  service  men   (see  also  Tax  exemption) 53, 

164,  241,  242 

Loans  to  service  men 35,  100,  104,  121,  150,  162,  184,  259,  292 

Marlieting  products  (see  also  Food) 35,  98,  95,  860,  861 

Minimum  wage  law 63 

Missing  men,  location  of ,__         22 

Moratorium  for  service  men 180,  806,  819 

Motor-transport  service 98,  125,  150,  162,  185,  281,  833 

Naturalization.     (See  Americanization.) 

Notarial  acts  before  Army  officers  abroad 185 

Payments  to  war-work  organizations 861 

Pensions,  credit  for  time  in  service  in  granting 80,  157 

Pensions  for  service  men.     (See  also  Assistance.) 
Placement.     (See  Employment.) 

Police  service,  aerial 210 

Port  facilities 281,  334 

Postwar  councils  of  defense  (see  also  Councils  of  defense) 7,  8,  10 

Preference  to  service  men  In  land  entries 275 

Preference  to  service  men  in  public  employment ,__  35,  53, 85,  94, 104, 187, 138, 150, 
163,  188,  202,  203,  207,  281,  282,  259,  260,  275,  292,  306,  325,  843,  361 

Preferential  employment  for  returned  service  men 29,  52 

Price  fixing  (see  also  Food  control) 188,  232 

Price  reduction,  cooperation  for  (see  also  Marketing) 145 

Prices  (see  also  Food) 81,  117 

Profiteering  (see  also  Price  fixing;  Food  control) 126,  203,  232,  283,  259,  292 

Public  advertising  in  foreign  language  newspapers 292 

Public  recreation  centers 260 

134286°— 20 24 


370        UNITED  STATES  READJUSTMENT  AND  llECONSTRUCTION. 

Pa^e. 

Public  works 10, 

12,  16,  20.  23,  36,  45,  53,  59,  63,  66,  70,  72,  75,  85,  86,  94,  100,  104, 
110,  115,  120,  ]26,  139,  146,  151,  163,  168,  175,  180,  185,  189,  192, 
203,  204,  209,  233r236,  246,  247,  250,  260,  261,  267,  275,  293,  294, 
299,  300,  303,  306,  312,  320,  325,  329,  333,  334.  343,  349,  361.  365 

Readjustment,  commissions  on   (see  also  Reconstruction) 28,  820 

lieclamation.     (See  Land  reclamation;  Land  settlement.) 

Reconstruction  associations 236.  237 

Reconstruction   board 366 

Reconstruction  commissions 59, 

iieconstruction  commissions 59,  139, 

145,  150,  151,  217,  218,  224-230,  234,  236-241,  246.  247,  275,  276 

Reconstruction  committees  on ^ 22,  23-28.  37,  163,  175,  239 

Reconstruction  conferences 86,  94,  95,  110,  126,  139.  151,  152,  164,  261 

Reconstruction  congress 277,  344,  345 

Reconstruction  convention 192 

Reconstruction   expenditures 46 

Reconstruction  plans 345.   346 

Reconstruction  problems 59,  126,  152,  164,  239,  240,  247 

Reconstruction  proirrams 37,  86,  95,  204,  240,  261,  361,  362 

Reconstruction  recommendation . 312 

Recreation  centers,  public 260 

Reeducation.     (See  Vocational  reeducation.) 

Registration  of  discharged  papers 87,  105.  152,  164,  250,  262,  294,  320,  362 

Rehabilitation  of  disabled  service  men.  (See  also  Vocational  reeduca- 
tion)  38,  180.  240,  241,  262.  334,  362 

Rehabilitation  of  physically  handicapped  persons 38,87, 

88,  133,  139,  189,  204,  205 

Reinstatement  of  returned  service  men ! 11,  12, 

15,  18,  23,  29,  42,  50,  51,  57,  98,  102,  113,  123,  133,  134,  147,  148, 
158,  159.  167,  171,  179,  183,  187,  191.  198,  199,  220,  245,  249,  304 

Reorganization,   administrative 210 

Research  and  consultation  service  (see  also  Information  services) 241 

Revolutionary  propaganda 185,  193 

Rights  and  privileges  of  service  men  and  their  families 95 

Roads.     (See  Highways.) 

Roadside  markets 95 

Rural  planning 362,  363 

School  gardens  (see  also  Home  garden) 10,  12,  16,  20,  38,  39,  46,  53, 

64,  67,  70-72,  76,  88,  95,  101,  105,  111,  116,  121,  126,  140,  153,  164, 
168,  176,  180,  186.  189,  193,  205,  209,  241,  247,  250,  262,  267,  278, 
294,  297,  300,  803,  306,  313,  320,  325,  329,  334,  346.  350,  363,  366 
Settlement.     (See  Land  settlement.) 

Shipbuilding 297 

Shipping   lines 12 

Sailors.     (See  Soldiers.) 

Soldiers.  ( See  Assistance ;  Bonuses ;  Education ;  Employment ;  Informa- 
tion services;  Laud  settlement;  Preference  for  returned  service  men; 
Reinstatement;  Vocational  education,  etc.) 

Soldier  colonization   (see  also  Land  settlement) 10 

Soldiers'  service  bureau  (see  also  Information  services) 22 

Soldiers'  settlement  board   (see  also  Land  ^settlement) — 16 

State  ownership  of  business  enterprises 250,  307 


INDEX.  371 

Page. 

Suffrage  for  returnd  service  men 53.  88.  209.  241,  294, 320.  850 

Tax  exemption  for  service  men  and  their  widows 39,  53,  60, 

95,  140,  153,  164,  180,  193,  205,  209,  241,  242,  303,  307,  320,  329 

Teacliers  returning  from  service 10,96,350 

Technical  men,  employment  of 30,  82 

Time  in  service,  credit  for  (see  also  Credit) 80,157 

Transcripts  of  public  records  (see  also  Certification) 158 

Transportation  of  service  men  to  their  homes.     (See  Assistance.) 

Transportation,  State  supervision  of . 40 

Trees  for  France 164 

Trunk  highways 152 

Uniforms,  refund  of  payments  for 95 

Vocational  counsel 161, 201 

Vocational    education 14.  67,  70,  76,  80,  88, 140, 176, 186, 196,  201,  262,  329 

Vocational  education  of  physically  handicapped  persons    (see  also  Re- 
habilitation)   140,  294,  295 

Vocational  education  of  returned  service  men 38, 

39,  46,  64,  67,  70,  76,  88,  96,  140,  253,  262,  295 
Vocational   reeducation   of  disabled   service   men    (see   also  Rehabilita- 
tion)  11,  16,  30,  39,  46,  54,  60.  64,  67,  70,  76,  88,  90, 

96,  100,  105,  108,  111,  116,  121,  127,  140,  153,  164,  168,  170,  181, 
186,  189,  192,  205,  209,  210,  242,  243,  247,  251,  262,  267,  278,  295, 
300,  303,  304,  307,  313,  321,  326,  330,  334,  335,  347,  350,  363,  366 

Vocational    training.     (See   Vocational   education.) 

War    donations 25 

Wasteful   service 263 

Water   resources 17, 77, 141,  243, 244 

Welfare  of  service  men  (see  also  Assistance;  Employment;  etc.) 30, 

39.  64,  78.  89,  101,  105,  115,  127,  141,  148,  154, 
165,    181,    186,   295,    296,    321,   346,    347,    363 
Women's  committees  (see  also  Assistance;  Community  councils;  Councils 

of  defense;  etc.) 7, 

11,  13,  23,  25,  37,  38,  40,  47,  70,  77,  79,  80,  93,  96,  101,  106,  111, 

116,  134,  144,  154,  155,  165, 169,  176, 193,  205,  206,  263,  335,  363,  364 

Women   employment   of 27,  47 


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